MADAME BOVARY
Rating: Not Rated, but there’s some nakedness and drug use and lots of ennui, so I’d probably put it in the R-rated category.
Studio: BBC
MSRP: $29.98 but Amazon has it for $22.83.
Running Time: 158 minutes
What’s Going On?
Emma Bovary is in love with the idea of love and romance, and longs to be swept off her feet and taken to the city, where she hopes all of her dreams will come true. Unable to bear the mediocrity of her simple but loving husband Charles, she begins an affair as a way to escape her life, whose consequences impact not only her relationship with Charles, but her entire view of the world.
Who’s In It:
Frances O’Connor stars as Emma Bovary and Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham of DOWNTON ABBEY) plays her husband Charles. Hugh Dancy and Eileen Atkins also star.
If You Like…:
Passion, melancholy, melodrama, lovely dresses, screaming at your husband in a ball gown in the rain, longing looks and stolen kisses, then give this a shot.
Special Features:
There’s a special feature about Flaubert that goes over his life in great detail, but sweet mercy is it ever long and dry. I literally fell asleep watching it – and I’m an English.
The Technical Gist
For only being about a decade old, MADAME BOVARY looks okay for the most part, but there are decided differences between shots. Indoor shots at a medium focus seem to look the best, while outdoor shots and closeups can get blurry.
The Verdict
This take on Flaubert’s tale is made all the better by O’Connor’s performance, who conveys Emma’s yearning to be passionate and to have a great romantic affair, along with the overwhelming sensation she gets once she allows herself to be taken away in the limited capacity to which she’s allowed. Perhaps the strongest part of her performance comes toward the end of the miniseries, when Emma gives up hope on ever being happy and slides into a deep depression that eventually takes her life. QUEUE IT.
