Le Divorce (2003)
Film Statistics
Director: James Ivory
Writer: James Ivory
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Release Date: August 8th, 2003 (Limited)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Status: On DVD
Cast:
- Kate Hudson
- Naomi Watts
- Glenn Close
- Stockard Channing
- Matthew Modine
- Sam Waterston
- Leslie Caron
- Melvil Poupaud
- Thierry Lhermitte
- Bebe Neuwirth
- Romain Duris
- Stephen Fry
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Synopsis
When two American sisters become caught up in the intimate intrigue of Paris, culture and human passions
collide - and the result is a comedy of manners and marriage, sex and sorority that sheds incandescent
light on what it means to be an American abroad.
Le Divorce follows the journey of Isabel Walker (Kate Hudson), a quintessential young Californian newly
arrived in the City of Light to visit her pregnant sister, Roxeanne (Naomi Watts), who has just been jilted
by her scoundrel husband, Charles-Henri de Persand (Melvil Poupaud), and it appears they are headed for "le
divorce." Meanwhile, Isabel leaps into l'amour with a married French diplomat (Thierry Lhermitte) who happens
to be the uncle of Roxy's soon-to-be-ex. As scandal ensues, the American idealism and irrepresible 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.
Based on the best-selling novel by Diane Johnson, Le Divorce is a new twist on the classic American-in-Paris
theme. At a time when French and American cultures have seemingly never been more embattled, Le Divorce reveals
the rich comlexity of the two cultures - and their compellingly different attitudes toward morality, sex, food,
fashion, and the very pursuit of life. Bat at its core, LE DIVORCE is really about its irrepressible heroine,
Isabel Walker, who arrives in Paris to help her sister - only to discover her own desires and viewpoint on the world.
Other Titles
- N/A
Trivia
- The film was originally set to star Winona Ryder and Natalie Portman, but both had to bow out before filming began.
- The painting sold before Roxy's LaTour is Claude-Joseph Vernet's "La Nuit, au Port au Clair de Lune", which is
in the Louvre's permanent collection.
- When Isabel is setting up chairs at the poetry reading and is confronted by Tellman, there are copies of "Le Divorce" on
the bookshelf behind them.
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