When two American sisters become caught up in the intimate intrigue of Paris, cultures and human passions collide - and the result is a comedy of manners and morals, money 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). A darkly romantic poet, Roxy 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 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.
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 complexity of the two cultures - and their compellingly different attitudes toward morality, sex, food, fashion, and the very pursuit of life. But 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.
LE DIVORCE is directed by three-time Academy Award® nominee James Ivory (THE REMAINS OF THE DAY, HOWARDS END, A ROOM WITH A VIEW). Two-time Academy Award-winning writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (A ROOM WITH A VIEW, HOWARDS END) and Ivory adapted the script from Johnson's novel. The film is produced by four-time Oscar® nominee Ismail Merchant and Michael Schiffer.
The award-winning cast of LE DIVORCE includes Kate Hudson (ALMOST FAMOUS) and Naomi Watts (MULHOLLAND DRIVE), as well as Jean-Marc Barr (BREAKING THE WAVES, THE BIG BLUE), Leslie Caron (GIGI, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS), Stockard Channing (SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, THE BUSINESS OF STRANGERS), Glenn Close (DANGEROUS LIAISONS, FATAL ATTRACTION), Romain Duris (PEUT-ETRE, GADJO DILO), Stephen Fry (GOSFORD PARK, WILDE), Thomas Lennon (HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS, A GUY THING), Thierry Lhermitte (THE DINNER GAME, SEVEN SUNDAYS), Matthew Modine (SHORT CUTS, THE SHIPMENT), Bebe Neuwirth (TADPOLE, SUMMER OF SAM), Melvil Poupaud (THOSE WERE THE DAYS, LA FILLE DE 15 ANS), Nathalie Richard (LE VENTRE DE JULIETTE, MAINTENANT) and Sam Waterston (THE KILLING FIELDS, I'LL FLY AWAY).
(46 votes)
2.
The cinematic team of Merchant Ivory (Howard's End, The Remains of the Day) leaves corsets behind for the contemporary world of Americans in Paris. The day Isabel Walker (Kate Hudson, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days) comes to visit her pregnant sister Roxy (Naomi Watts, Mullholland Drive) is the day Roxy's French husband leaves her. The divorce proceedings end up centering around a painting, long owned by the Walkers, that the husband's family would like to claim--but their maneuverings are complicated when Isabel begins an affair with a diplomat (Thierry Lhermitte, The Closet) who just happens to be Roxy's uncle-in-law. At its best moments, Le Divorce has the feel of one of Woody Allen's serio-comic films like Hannah and Her Sisters, and there's a genuinely suspenseful climactic scene on the Eiffel Tower. Also featuring Leslie Caron, Glenn Close, Matthew Modine, Stephen Fry, Sam Waterston, and Stockard Channing. --Bret Fetzer
(43 votes)
3.
Kate Hudson lights up the screen as Isabel, a film school dropout who jets off to Paris when her pregant step-sister Roxy is abandoned by her husband. Soon, Isabel has a scandal of her own when she falls for an older man who's related to Roxy's cheating husband! This stylish romantic comedy by the acclaimed Merchant Ivory team features a top cast, including Stockard Channing, Glenn Close, Matthew Modine and Bebe Newirth.
(44 votes)
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