Here’s a quick French quiz to kick off your Friday. Is a '**Potiche' **(a) a specialist potty, (b) Howard Marks’ favourite lunchtime dish, or (c) Catherine Deneuve in an old-school Adidas tracksuit?
If you answered (c) congratulations! Take the rest of the week off. The legendary French actress, dipping into the Beastie Boys’ wardrobe for the film’s new poster, is the ‘potiche’ or trophy wife at the heart of François Ozon’s new comedy of manners. The script is adapted from a play by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Grédy.
It’s the kind of movie that only the French seem to pull off, with comedy squirrels sharing screentime with a coyly romantic Gérard Depardieu and a ‘70s backdrop straight out of a fashion catalogue in your parents’ loft.
Deneuve is the wife of factory boss Fabrice Luchini, a sexist, militantly right wing cad, who treats both her and his employees with contempt. When he gets sick, though, she get the chance to take the reins of the business and the rest is history. But will old flame Depardieu help or just stick his nose in where it doesn't belong? Think Made In Dagenham remade by the Zuckers, with the silliness dialled down just a touch.
We actually kinda prefer theFrench version of the poster with name game stickies on the forehead of each character indicating their role in the plot, but it’s Deneuve’s film so she really belongs front and centre. See for yourself when **Potiche **is out in cinemas on June 17.