Gemma Bovery (film)

Gemma Bovery is a 2014 French comedy-drama film directed by Anne Fontaine. It is based on the 1999 graphic novel of the same name by Posy Simmonds, which itself is a modern reimagining of Gustave Flaubert's classic novel Madame Bovary.

The film stars Gemma Arterton as Gemma Bovery, a British woman who moves to a small village in Normandy with her husband, Charles (played by Jason Flemyng). A local baker named Martin Joubert (played by Fabrice Luchini), who is obsessed with Flaubert's Madame Bovary, becomes convinced that Gemma is destined to follow a similar tragic path as Emma Bovary.

Joubert's increasing involvement in Gemma's life, fueled by his literary obsession, leads to humorous and dramatic situations as Gemma navigates her new life in France, her marriage, and her desires. The film explores themes of literary influence, fantasy versus reality, and the complexities of relationships. It is a satirical take on the themes of adultery and societal expectations presented in Flaubert's novel, viewed through a contemporary lens.