Madame Bovary

This 1991 adaptation of Gustave Flaubert's frequently-filmed 1857 novel—directed by Claude Chabrol and starring Isabelle Huppert—fastidiously follows the source material's portrait of Emma Bovary, wife of a rural French doctor, who seeks refuge from her dull marriage in an illicit romance and reckless spending, with tragic results. While the Norman locations could hardly be more authentic, and the period atmosphere is splendidly captured, Chabrol's style is so plain that it verges on unimaginative, while Huppert is arguably miscast. Her stern, rigid demeanor—even in scenes where Emma is supposedly enjoying herself—is odd, and during the last act, when she finally exhibits some passion, it feels like too little, too late. But while this Madame Bovary may fall a bit short of expectations given the talent involved, it is still the best version available. DVD extras include the fine documentary Playing Life, which follows Huppert over the course of a year, combining interviews, home movies, and film excerpts to offer insights into her approach to acting on stage and screen (and also featuring behind-the-scenes glimpses of her working with Chabrol on Merci Pour le Chocolat and Michael Haneke on The Piano Teacher). Recommended, overall. (F. Swietek)