Le sigh. _La Bonne Épouse_ is meant to be a vaudeville pastiche of bygone sexism to illustrate how successful feminism is today. This male director declaring that women are now free smacks of George W Bush standing on an aircraft carrier proclaiming Mission Accomplished for a conflict that had barely even started.

But it's OK, because Martin Provost backs up his argument that women are now liberated by showing how the central character is happiest when she finds a man, and the 'ugly duckling' spinster is finally actualized after she cuts her hair and puts on too much makeup. :person_facepalming_tone3:

The presence of Juliette Binoche and Édouard Baer aren't the best thing about this film, they're the only good thing about this comedy with no jokes, drama with no emotion and feminists with no feminism. But hell, French people seem to love this film so you probably will, too.

If, like me, however, you find this conservative pamphlet for women's lib disingenuous, resist the temptation to walk out early and stay for the surreal and slightly disturbing dance number that caps off the end.