FOLIES BERGERE/ PARIS FOLIES/ LA RITOURNELLE

France, 2014, 98 minutes, Colour.
Isabelle Huppert, Jean- Pierre Darrousin, Michael Nyqvist, Pio Marmai, Marina Fois.
Directed by Marc Fitoussi.

Because Folies Bergere is so well acted, it might give the impression that it is deeper than it actually is, screenplay at least.

No, it is not that Folies Bergere some of the action does take place in Paris (and the original title of the film is, in fact, Paris Folies). Rather, it is the kind of madness, folie, that goes through the middle aged heart and mind, wondering about a marriage, daring to test out the reality with the risk of temptation.

The setting is Normandy, a farm with the raising of cattle, beautiful and large white cattle, which we see parading in a competition as the film opens, with Xavier (Jean- Pierre Darrousin, always a fine actor) standing by his bull and hoping that he will win. His wife, Brigitte (Isabelle Huppert, always a fine actor as well), combing the bull, suggesting it wear a tiara if it wins, though she puts on the tiara for the celebratory photo. We are plunged into the countryside, the difficulties in the marriage when Xavier is always making comments about his wife and her behaviour. She has developed a psychosomatic rash and in a more than rash judgement, she decides to go to Paris to consult a doctor (whom Xavier phones and discovers has not been in practice for some time).

A different way of life is suggested by the young people who come down to celebrate a loud party next door to the file, while some of them do come across to look at the birth of a calf, not their ordinary experience. One of the guests is Stan hello thank you, a man of about 30 who is attracted to Brigitte and invites her to the party. She does go, but finds it too loud, but takes his address in Paris.

This is to be a two-day holiday for Brigitte, freedom from the farm, from her husband, from a life that she has lived but is unsatisfactory.

The meetings with Stan and outings are not all that they are expected to be, especially when she finishes up having to babysit two youngsters – and then disappears again, leaving her mobile phone, visiting Stan’s shop to recover it, much to his displeasure.

While she enjoys the sites of Paris and its atmosphere, she is smoking outside her hotel room when the alarm goes off, not for her, but for a Danish visitor, Michael (Michael Nykvist, also a fine actor). He is something of a charmer, with a wife, though not strongly attached to her it would seem. Brigitte goes out with him, finds the tourist wheel rather queasy, enjoys a show, but then has to have dinner with her sister-in-law, with Michael sitting down beside them, pretending not to know French or understand the insults she is piling on him.

As might be expected, Xavier comes to Paris, sees his wife, is dismayed. But he does go to visit his son who, against hopes, is training to be an acrobat. Xavier is impressed with his performance and bonds with his son again.

After the trip to Paris, with wise words from his assistant at the farm, Regis, the couple go over to see a dyspeptic bull – and the conversation, realism about the bull, but really an allegory about themselves, means that they have to come to terms with themselves and their marriage.

(Someone who was impressed with the film thought it was the new version of Madame Bovary – which it may be, but that is giving it too much status for its rather likeable, even pleasant, exploration of middle age and marriage.)


1. The various titles? The emphasis?

2. A French story, tone?

3. The Normandy settings, the cattle, the farms, home, the countryside?

4. Paris, the landmarks, romantic images, the hotel, the river, the tourist wheel, the show and performance, restaurants? The songs? Score?

5. The cattle show, the competition, Xavier parading his ball, very serious, Brigitte, combing the bull, the comment about the tiara, taking the photos, poor photos, winning, her wearing the tiara? The scenes of work, Regis and his helping on the farm? The birth of the calf, the difficulties, the young people from the party watching?

6. Saviour and Brigitte, their long marriage, tensions, his critique of her behaviour, the visit of the son, the response to his training to be an acrobat? Brigitte and her rash, the discussions about it, the neighbours and the meals and their conversation? Life in the provinces?

7. The young people, the party, Stan and his avoiding the party, talking with Brigitte, inviting her to come, the dancing, her suddenly going home, his address?

8. Brigitte and her decision to go to Paris, the false appointment, the discussions with her sister-in-law? Going to the hotel, going to Stan and his shop, meeting him, the babysitting, her going to the house, the children, the pot, the effect on her, leaving without notifying him? His later reaction to her, indignant? His having her phone and her getting it back?

9. Seeing Michael, smoking, the alarm going off in his room, explaining that he was Danish? His charm? Inviting Brigitte out for a walk, going to the wheel, her apprehension, being sick? Enjoying the show? Crossing the street through the traffic?

10. The meal with her sister-in-law, Michael sitting at the table, hearing everything, the rude comments of the sister-in-law and then Michael speaking in French?

11. The return from the outing, going to Michael’s room, her decision, the sexual encounter, his infidelity to his wife? The effect? Going to the conference, his giving the talk? Brigitte watching him?

12. Xavier, the effect of Brigitte going to Paris, the phone calls, discovering her lies about the doctor and the appointment? His going to Paris, seeing Brigitte with Michael, watching them on the bus, the effect as he sat by himself? The challenge to him?

13. The decision to visit his son, amazed at his acrobatic skill, bonding with his son?

14. Brigitte, going home, the train, Xavier collecting her?

15. Regis, his reassuring Xavier, reminding Xavier of his infidelity? Affirming that each loved the other?

16. The return home, the difficulty with the bull, the discussion about Big Jim and Bora Bora, the analogy with Brigitte and Xavier, in each other’s company,
the reconciliation?

17. The suggestion that this is a 21st century version of the Madame Bovary story?