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I Am Not Madame Bovary

Play trailer 1:50 Poster for I Am Not Madame Bovary Released Nov 18, 2016 2h 8m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A café proprietor petitions the Chinese legal system after she is swindled by her ex-husband.
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I Am Not Madame Bovary

I Am Not Madame Bovary

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Critics Consensus

I Am Not Madame Bovary's sly social commentary and well-constructed story anchor director Feng Xiaogang's visually experimental approach.

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Critics Reviews

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Tara Brady Irish Times Bingbing heads a terrific ensemble, although the sly anti-bureaucratic fun does feel a little overextended at 137mins. Rated: 3/5 Jun 28, 2017 Full Review Simran Hans Observer (UK) The film is uneven and lagging in pace. Still, it's frequently beautiful ... Rated: 3/5 May 28, 2017 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) A film that luxuriates, through that beguiling round frame, in breathtaking, never-seen-before screen imagery. Rated: 4/5 May 26, 2017 Full Review Colin Stacy Vague Visages I Am Not Madame Bovary brilliantly executes its high-concept, formal experimentation perfectly. In doing so, it embodies a vision that harmonizes the theoretical with the actual. Dec 6, 2023 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Paired with a complex performance from lead actress Bingbing Fan, an otherwise slight, arguably trite narrative makes this sharply observed beauty of a film all the more bitter and brittle. Rated: 3.5/5 Oct 3, 2019 Full Review Laura Davis One Room With A View Innovative aspect ratios and artful photography make I Am Not Madame Bovary a delight to watch, but it just doesn't leave enough to chew on. Rated: 2/5 Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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isla s One of my first thoughts about this film was that it reminded me of Wes Andersons 'Isle of Dogs' film, partly as its set in Asia but moreso due to the lighting, camerawork/cinematography and also the heavy use of tribal drumming, though there's narration present as well, which I think also applied to Isle of Dogs. It has a real quirkiness to it, this film. I liked how different scenes are shown in different aspect ratios, with the first part of the film almost entirely seen in a big round circle shape, that turns rectangular later. I also thought it had the feel of a traditional folk tale or similar. There's some witty dialogue present and as I did enjoy the cinematography, with some nice landscape panoramas and sunrise/sunsets shown. There is an emphasis on symmetry shown in the way some scenes are shown, if that makes sense. It depicts a sort of battle of wits and I thought it was amusing seeing how those in authority squirmed with the prospect of how to deal with the unhappy wife (divorced or otherwise). I wouldn't say its an entirely funny film as such but the story does have some moments or aspects that may make you smirk or oyu may otherwise find somewhat pleasing. If your not keen on reasonably slow and somewhat arty films then this may be a little plodding for your taste but if yout interested in quirky and amtospheric Asian films with an element of social commentary, then I'd say this is definitely worth seeing, yes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The film is aesthetically pleasing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Didn't finish... The premise of this movie is just silly... Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Stylistic approach to a wonderful literary piece. I'm never a fan of Fan Bing Bing's acting and you don't see it much on here cos the camera is always faraway. Wise choice. The ending was actually quite satisfactory. I still don't particularly like the character cos she reminds me of a few people I know growing up who just doesn't give up after proven wrong and holds grudge forever. This is not exactly a movie you'd enjoy after a long work day. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Bold and beautiful, and surprisingly funny. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member A misguided, claustrophobic vignette takes away from the power of the story and the performances. With almost the entire film confined to a circular frame, with the action confined to less than half the screen, I Am Not Madame Bovary never seems to get started. The framing device makes for a compelling start, but then takes over everything until more time is spent contemplating the vast amount of negative space on the screen as opposed to the story. Maybe that was what the filmmaker intended, by it seems like a waste of the performers' time and talents. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
I Am Not Madame Bovary

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Movie Info

Synopsis A café proprietor petitions the Chinese legal system after she is swindled by her ex-husband.
Director
Feng Xiao-Gang
Screenwriter
Liu Zhenyun
Distributor
Well Go USA
Production Co
Beijing Skywheel Entertainment Co., Huayi Brothers Media
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 6, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$436.6K
Runtime
2h 8m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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