Le Divorce

( 9 )

Overview

The team of Merchant/Ivory forgo their commonly used classical stories to adapt this novel, set in contemporary Paris, by Diane Johnson. The movie, little seen, may be helped by the home video release, but this DVD wouldn't be the reason to see it. If it wasn't for a wonderful transfer, with both 2.35:1 and pan and scan versions available on the same disc, there would be little going for this title. The picture is quite good though, with superb use of color throughout, and a particularly strong focus on a natural...
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More About This Product

Overview

The team of Merchant/Ivory forgo their commonly used classical stories to adapt this novel, set in contemporary Paris, by Diane Johnson. The movie, little seen, may be helped by the home video release, but this DVD wouldn't be the reason to see it. If it wasn't for a wonderful transfer, with both 2.35:1 and pan and scan versions available on the same disc, there would be little going for this title. The picture is quite good though, with superb use of color throughout, and a particularly strong focus on a natural appearance. Paris has never looked more beautiful. The sound, offering both Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks in English and French (with subtitles at the right times) is primarily focused up front, with only a sporadic tease of the surrounds. Nothing more would be expected though for this dialogue driven film. What is truly missing though is the supplements, which are simply non-existent. Other than some colorful animated menus, nothing, not even the films trailer, is included. Le Divorce is an odd, not always interesting nor satisfying blend of humor and drama. As with the movie, this disc isn't necessarily interesting or satisfying either.
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Special Features

Closed Caption; Original trailer
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Todd Kristel
There are some mild attempts at social commentary in Le Divorce, but the film is too lightweight to qualify as a serious drama. It's also too tastefully genteel for biting social satire and the characters aren't sufficiently well developed for gripping drama, despite some melodramatic (and contrived) plot developments. Kate Hudson doesn't manage to flesh out Isabel Walker to make her seem multi-layered or even particularly engaging, and the film doesn't make much effort to get inside her head, so the movie isn't much of a character study, either. These problems would be surmountable if the film worked as a frothy romantic comedy, but it's too dull and passionless, and neither playful nor funny enough. It's also cluttered with underwritten supporting characters, but at least this provides talented actors such as Glenn Close, Bebe Neuwirth, and Stephen Fry a chance to provide relatively memorable performances in their small roles. Other than that, however, the movie doesn't offer much.
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

Acted with relish by a note-perfect cast -- a romantic comedy of true sophistication. There's a sting in every laugh.
Washington Post - Desson Howe
A relaxed delight, a series of delicately tongue-in-cheek musings about the clash between American and French cultures.
Boston Globe - Wesley Morris
This present-day Paris of Le Divorce is smartly shot and costumed, and the whole affair is breezy and uncharacteristically insouciant, given the reserved nature of the folks responsible for it.
Hollywood Reporter
Utterly charming and not without those subtle insights into character and culture that mark their (Merchant-Ivory) best films. Kirk Honeycutt
New York Post - Jonathan Foreman
Le Divorce provides welcome relief from the lame-brained trash Hollywood has foisted on the public this summer.

A relaxed delight, a series of delicately tongue-in-cheek musings about the clash between American and French cultures.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/27/2004
  • UPC: 024543104148
  • Original Release: 2003

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20th Century Fox
  • Region Code: 1
  • Aspect Ratio: Pre-1954 Standard (1.33.1)
  • Presentation: Wide Screen / Pan & Scan
  • Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Language: English, Español, Français
  • Time: 1:57:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 1,734

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Kate Hudson Isabel Walker
Naomi Watts Roxeanne de Persand
Jean-Marc Barr Maitre Bertram
Leslie Caron Suizanne de Persand
Stockard Channing Margreeve Walker
Glenn Close Olivia Pace
Romain Duris Yves
Stephen Fry Piers Janely
Samuel Labarthe Antoine de Persand
Thomas Lennon Roger Walker
Thierry Lhermitte Edgar Cosset
Daniel Mesguich Louvre Expert
Matthew Modine Tellman
Bebe Neuwirth Julia Manchevering
Melvil Poupaud Charles-Henri de Persand
Nathalie Richard Charlotte de Persand
Catherine Samie Madame Florian
Sam Waterston Chester Walker
Rona Hartner Magda
Lambert Wilson
Technical Credits
James Ivory Director, Screenwriter
John David Allen Editor
Frederic Benard Production Designer
Paul Bradley Co-producer
George Every Asst. Director
Ted Field Executive Producer
Richard Hawley Co-producer
Ludovic Henault Sound/Sound Designer
Erica Huggins Executive Producer
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Screenwriter
Scott Kroopf Executive Producer
Pierre Lhomme Cinematographer
Ismail Merchant Producer
Carol Ramsey Costumes/Costume Designer
Richard Robbins Score Composer
Michael Schiffer Producer
Annette Trumel Casting
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Scene Index

Side #1 -- Full Screen
1. Main Titles/Hello, Goodbye
2. The In-Laws
3. In Denial
4. Franco-American Relations
5. Not Herself
6. Money and the Arts
7. Helpless
8. Uncle Edgar
9. Quite an Offer
10. A Gift
11. The Affair Begins
12. The Book Signing
13. The Wages of Sin
14. Choices
15. Blame
16. Family Visit
17. Authentication
18. Old and New
19. Extended Family
20. Packing It In
21. The Other Man
22. Consequences
23. The Last Luncheon
24. New Lives/End Titles
Side #2 -- Widescreen
1. Main Titles/Hello, Goodbye
2. The In-Laws
3. In Denial
4. Franco-American Relations
5. Not Herself
6. Money and the Arts
7. Helpless
8. Uncle Edgar
9. Quite an Offer
10. A Gift
11. The Affair Begins
12. The Book Signing
13. The Wages of Sin
14. Choices
15. Blame
16. Family Visit
17. Authentication
18. Old and New
19. Extended Family
20. Packing It In
21. The Other Man
22. Consequences
23. The Last Luncheon
24. New Lives/End Titles
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Menu

Side #1 -- Full Screen
   Play Movie
   Language Selection
      English 5.1 Dolby Surround
      French 5.1 Dolby Surround (English Portion With French Subtitles)
      French Dolby Surround
      Spanish Dolby Surround
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
Side #2 -- Widescreen
   Play Movie
   Language Selection
      English 5.1 Dolby Surround
      French 5.1 Dolby Surround (English Portion With French Subtitles)
      French Dolby Surround
      Spanish Dolby Surround
      Subtitles: English
      Subtitles: Spanish
      Subtitles: None
   Scene Selection
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3.5
( 9 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(3)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(2)

Your Rating:

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Sort by: Showing all of 9 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Very entertaining

    I first saw this movie on a plane going to Paris, so perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so. The second time I saw it I found it equally as enjoyable and thought the acting, scenery and story line very well done.
    I loved the relationsip between the sisters and thought the depiction of Parisian life very accurate. I would watch it again and again...

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A fantastic often tantilizing Paris Holiday

    A very unusual romantic comedy with twists and turns that are often avoided in mainstream films. Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts shine as sisters.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 23, 2012

    Charming! Charmant!

    This girl can take care of herself and still be vulnerable. You go, girl. I found the movie charming. Associations for me included: her Mom in Private Benjamin, Leslie Caron in Gigi. Shows contrast of an American and French family which is pretty believable. Even the British, throu Stephen Fry, if I remember correctly, give a glimpse of why there's a difference.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    So-so

    I have seen this movie twice. I actually enjoyed it the first time more than the second, which in my book means that it is not a first-rate movie.
    The story is about two sisters, one a poet (Roxy, played by Naomi Watts) living in France, married to a French aristo, now expecting her second child, when her husband, who seems to be more interested in her fortune than their kid, walks out on her. Roxy`s sister, Isabel (Kate Hudson)comes to visit her sister, and while there, gets entangled in two love affairs, one with a much older French men.
    The film doesn`t handle the multiple storylines and characters too well. It jumps all over the place. The casting is good, but I liked the "old" cast slightly better than the young ones. The French actors were also great, but didn`t get a big enough part in the film, which I was sorry for.
    I did enjoy the movie, it had a certain French charm to it, which is great, and if you love Paris, it is always nice to get that Parisian flair.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Le Divorce...all wrong

    I read the book, and the main plot was the affair between the 20 something American, and the much MUCH older French diplomat. The whole idea the author was trying to get across the the reader, was this question...what did this older man have, that he kept on getting women young enough to be his granddaughters, into his bed? And, to some point, the writer did succeed, portraying a man who was still handsome, and was charming, intelligent, sophisticated, and very good in bed. So, why did they choose a man who looked as if he was in his late 40's (albeit, a very handsome, sexy late 40's), to play this "elderly" Frenchman? That totally ruined the movie for me. His being the young American's lover, was totally beleivable, from the start. There was no mystery about what it was he had, that she became his mistress so quickly. Any female over the age of consent would fall for this guy! It would have made much more sense, to have Sam Waterston, play the older diplomat/lover, instead of the naive father. After all, he is probably closer to the age of the character as written by the author in the book, is good looking, has sex appeal, and, I've read, speaks fluent French. I'm sure he could have pulled a Parisian accent out of his acting bag of tricks. The ending, was not as portrayed in the book. Not even close. And, a great disappointment. As for Naomi Watts and Kate Hudson...I rather wish, that Sam Waterston, Stockard Channing, and Leslie Caron had all ganged up, and tossed these highly overrated blonde ditzes, in the Seine, and gone on to make a film about rich, naive American tourists in France, who meet up with a rich, elegant French lady. These three actors, along with the underused Stephen Fry, and Bebe Neuwirth, made this film, and stole every scene they were in, effortlessly.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    uhh....

    ok, i rented this movie because i LOVE Kate Hudson but all i can say after just finishing it is : 'uhh....' everything jumps around like crazy and it was hard to keep up and i was soo dissapointed in the role of Kate

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Completely disappointing

    This is the first movie review I have ever written, and I am doing this to spare whoever is looking for a good movie not to waste your time with this one. I decided to watch it after read the book(it wasnt a good of a book either), and I just confirmed how BAD the story is. The end is completely weird. DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE NOR READ THE BOOK!!!!You can find something better to do.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 10, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 2, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 9 Customer Reviews