Le Divorce, Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts (2003)
Synopsis of the DVD Movie: Le Divorce, Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts (2003)
Isabel Walker is a quintessential young Californian, newly arrived in Paris to visit her pregnant sister, Roxeanne. A darkly romantic poet, Roxy has just been jilted by her scoundrel husband, Charles-Henri de Persand, and it appears they are headed for “le divorce.” Meanwhile, Isabel leaps into l’amour with a married French diplomat who happens to be the uncle of Roxy’s soon-to-be-ex. As scandal ensues, the American idealism and irrepressible spirit of the Walker sisters comes up against the French sophistication and stubborn rationalism of the Persand family. Complicating the two families’ relations is a painting in Roxy’s possession that is discovered to be worth millions of dollars. And then, quite suddenly, a crime of passion disrupts all the scheming and culture clashes--and opens up new possibilities for understanding.
DVD Movie Rating for: Le Divorce
Rating 2 out of 5 stars
Movie Plot of: Le Divorce
Isabel (Hudson) heads to Paris to help out her pregnant stepsister (Watts), and arrives to find that her husband (Poupaud) has abandoned her. Deciding not to cave to les ennuis, the sisters hit the Paris social scene, where they attend parties where natives and expatriates mingle. Cross-cultural romances and hijinx ensue.
DVD Production Details of: Le Divorce
Starring: Kate Hudson, Naomi Watts
Director: James Ivory
Format: Color, Widescreen
Studio: Fox Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: January 27, 2004
DVD Easter Eggs
None
Cast of the movie: Le Divorce
- Kate Hudson .... Isabel Walker
- Naomi Watts .... Roxeanne de Persand
- Thierry Lhermitte .... Edgar Cosset
- Melvil Poupaud .... Charles-Henri de Persand
- Catherine Samie .... Madame Florian
- Samuel Labarthe .... Antoine de Persand
- Leslie Caron .... Suzanne de Persand
- Nathalie Richard .... Charlotte de Persand
- Glenn Close .... Olivia Pace
- Sam Waterston .... Chester Walker
- Stockard Channing .... Margeeve Walker
- Thomas Lennon .... Roger Walker
- Romain Duris .... Yves
- Bebe Neuwirth .... Julia Manchevering
- Sandrel Lonnoy .... Maid
- Matthew Modine .... Tellman
- Jean-Marc Barr .... Maitre Bertram
- Stephen Fry .... Piers Janely
- Daniel Mesguich .... Louvre Expert
- Esmée Buchet-Deàk .... Gennie de Persand
- Marianne Borgo .... Ballet Mistress
- Marie-Christine Adam .... Amélie Cosset
- Jean-Marie Lhomme .... Immigration Officer
- Jean-Jacques Pivert .... Talkative Shopkeeper
- Samuel Gruen .... de Persand Child
- Peter Wyckoff .... de Persand Child
- Elie Axas .... Television Interviewer
- Humbert Balsan .... Maitre Doisneau
- Arnaud Borrel .... Photographer
- Rona Hartner .... Magda Tellman
- Sébastien Pascaud .... Television Talking Head
- Gérard Couchet .... Television Talking Head
- Micky Sébastian .... Television Moderator
- Hélène Surgère .... Lingerie Saleswoman
- Fannie Brett .... Lingerie Saleswoman (as Fanny Brett)
- Marie-Louise Sellman .... Bookstore Fan
- Joseph Chanet .... Bookstore Fan
- Cherif Ezzeldin .... Bookstore Fan
- Kiran Stordalen .... Bookstore Fan
- Françoise Brion .... Bookstore Owner
- Philip Tabor .... Bouncer
- Alan Ewing .... Singer
- Pierre Aussedat .... Appraiser
- Anne Canovas .... Appraiser
- Marc Tissot .... Medic
- Emilie Bavart .... Children's Shop Assistant
- Christian Erickson .... Museum Curator
- Judith Burnett .... Museum Curator
- David Applefield .... Museum Curator
- Matthew Gonder .... Museum Curator
- Joaquina Belaunde .... Chanel Assistant
- Jeanne Antebi .... Action Alert Helper
- Claire Rochelle .... Action Alert Helper
- Dominique Pivain .... Action Alert Helper
- Valerie Lang .... Policewoman (as Valérie Lang)
- Pierre-Olivier Brändli .... Young Policeman
- Christophe Vienne .... Eiffel Tower Security
- Emmanuel Broche .... Eiffel Tower Security
- Graziella Delerm .... Eiffel Tower Security
- Keiko Yoshiyama .... Japanese Tour Guide
- Jean-Pierre Bouvier .... Police Inspector
- Georges Delettrez .... Auctioneer
- Frédérick Chanoit .... Drouot Expert
- Jean-Pierre Raymond .... Salesroom 'Crieur'
- Nelson .... Mathieu
- André Crudo .... Man at Fund-Raising Party (uncredited)
- Hissa de Urkiola .... The Model (uncredited)
- Victor Loukianenko .... Man in Café (uncredited)
- Eric Moreau .... Man in Eiffel Tower (uncredited)
- Floriane Murphy-Borel .... de Persand Child (uncredited)
- Laurent Schwaar .... Doctor (uncredited)
Photo Gallery of the movie: Le Divorce
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Reviews of the movie: Le Divorce
Merchant and Ivory have done much better before.
If Henry James saw `Le Divorce,' he would wonder how we missed his lessons in developing expatriate characters and intriguing plots. Not even Kate Hudson, whose character, Isabel, is clearly meant to evoke the European-bound traveler from `Portrait of a Lady'; not even Naomi Watts, whose turn in `Mulholland Drive' made me a lifelong fan, could save this vapid romantic comedy about Americans in Paris experiencing the much-ballyhooed French infidelity and the now-universal puzzle of divorce. Merchant and Ivory have done much better before.
The photography of Paris is pleasing to the eye, the French interiors equally so, and the French actors are superior (with the exception of the capable Glenn Close as a knowing American author). But what saves `Le Divorce' from critical oblivion is its honest attempt to reveal the differences in the American and French cultures. For example, one character says that at meals the French talk about any subject but money while Americans never stop talking about it.
Don't despair: Americans are superior in their anguish over infidelity and their seriousness about marriage. Like our own subversive fast food, however, the French blasé attitude toward these subjects is seductive, and soon Isabel is very French in all her dealings.
If you can get past idiotic bits like the crazed Matthew Modine character stalking the wife of his wife's lover and see the Americans and the French as different, you may salvage this film in your mind. Otherwise, see `Jet Lag' for an idea of how poorly even the French can do with films.
