Suzanne Pujol (Catherine Deneuve) is the trophy wife of Robert (Fabrice Luchini), a tyrant with a temper and a carefree womanizer. They live in a very comfortable house in a provincial French town in 1977. She has very little to do except to keep her body and mind fit by jogging and writing poems. Their two grown children are worlds apart: Joelle (Judith Godreche) is a married woman who pleases her father by espousing his hatred of unions. Laurent (Jeremie Renier) doesn’t quite know who he is or what he wants to do but he loves being creative. Naturally, this draws him closer to his mother.
When the umbrella factory which Robert runs is hit by a strike, he is briefly taken as a hostage. The workers are really angry at him for being such an insensitive and uncaring boss. Shortly after he is freed, he has to go into the hospital. Suzanne volunteers to take over the factory until Robert returns. Everyone is stunned by this move and are doubtful that she can pull it off as an executive. After all, she's just a trophy wife who loves to pamper herself. Now Suzanne must sit down and face the angry union members. She stuns the workers by offering to consider their demands. Then she hires both of her children to work with her.
Part of her success comes from the assistance of Babin (Gerard Depardieu), a former labor union activist and her one-time lover. He wants to romance her again but she will have none of it. Both Suzanne and Nadege (Karin Viard), Robert's secretary and mistress, are transformed by their work at the umbrella factory. "I've learned that you don't have to spread your legs to get ahead," says Nadege.
Potiche (Trophy Wife) is directed by Francois Ozon (Swimming Pool) and based on a comedy by Barillete and Gredy. Catherine Deneuve puts in a relaxed and funny performance as the trophy wife who becomes a transformative leader. Fabrice Luchini makes the most of his role as the chauvinist pig and reactionary industrialist. And Gerard Depardieu is appealing as a lonely man who yearns to return to yesteryear. The feminist triumph of the trophy housewife is a delight to behold!
