Catherine (Fanny Ardant) yearns to discover what her long-time husband, Bernard (Gérard Depardieu), wants her to be when she learns of his philandering. Enter Marlène (Emmanuelle Béart), who makes a living fulfilling fantasies. Since their communication has become seldom and fraught with lies, Catherine turns to her, and instructs her to go by the name of Nathalie, seduce her husband, and return to her with the tales of their escapades. If that doesn't sound like a French film who knows what is! What has the makings for a voyeuristic pseudo-pornographic film instead becomes a highly erotic, but delicate, nuanced story about commitment and the realities of marriage. In a way it feels like the seventh chapter of Eric Rohmer's Morality Series ("Chloe in the Afternoon", et al), or from a more modern standpoint like "Closer" with more pleasant characters. Either way, it's a beautiful piece of cinema.
Review of Nathalie...
