Gemma Bovery
Genre : Romance
Year : 2014
Director : Anne Fontaine
Screenplay : Pascale Bonitzer, Anne Fontaine
Starring : Gemma Arterton, Fabrice Luchini, Jason Flemyng

Gemma Arterton fascinates her French neighbours as she appears to act out the life of her literary near-namesake as she plays Gemma Bovery, married to Charlie and moving into a quiet and scenic French neighbourhood.

They are an English couple, and older man Martin who lives nearby with wife and child is the first to find he can’t take her eyes off Gemma. He’s also obsessed with the idea that Gemma will live and experience life in the manner of Emma Bovary.

Judging by other reviews I have read, it helps to be ignorant of the Flaubert novel! It meant I didn’t know what to expect.

Gemma starts an affair with young student Herve, and when another set of neighbours (Rankin and Wizzy) introduce her to their friend Patrick, well she has previously had an affair with him too.

Martin watches all this unfold open-mouthed. A good deal of the story takes place in Martin’s head – he reckons he knows what is going to happen.

Gemma Arterton carries it all off pretty well, the scenery is great and it isn’t too long. The conclusion, which has at least three men feeling guilty over their actions, seemed a bit contrived.

7 out of 10 -

mike@mikes-movies.co.uk

A COLLECTION OF INDEPENDENT FILM & MOVIE REVIEWS BY MIKE HUNTER
Thanks to David Kinvig for the header cartoon

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