Madame Bovary

R

Released Jun 12, 2015

1 hr. 58 min.

Romance

History

Drama

List

43%

69 Reviews

Tomatometer

27%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Trapped in a loveless marriage and desperate for excitement, a doctor's wife (Mia Wasikowska) seeks love and fulfillment outside the bonds of matrimony.

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Critics Consensus

Over the years, Flaubert's Madame Bovary has proven an exceedingly difficult novel to film -- and this version adds another disappointing entry to the list.

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Jelisije J

A movie that failed to adapt from its source material that left a husk of what should have been adapted.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/07/24

Full Review

Vander A

Wow these reviews are really surprising. But if you are a Flaubert fan, and if you have indeed read the book, and you know Flaubert's realistic message about life in all his work, you will have a much greater opinion of this movie than some of these negative reviews. This is an excellent adaptation and Mia W., whose quiet beauty perfectly casts her as the naive heroine, discovering her passions unfortunately too late to save her from a marriage devoid of equal passions for lust and life. The only negative I thought was the usually great Paul Giametti ill, and under, used in a small part. But the movie is overall excellent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The characters were not developed enough at all. She is "in love" but you never see them anywhere outside of bed really. When she feels for the black haired guy, then next thing is in bed with brown haired guy, I was like, "Did I miss something here????"" I felt nothing for her, she was greedy, selfish and while women were poor and working and walking by her, she had on RICH clothing. Did not care for the movie. Very empty. I am going to watch the 1949 one and hope for more! I must say, as others, I loved the scenery and the music. That saved it for me. But very very underdeveloped characters that one feels nothing for.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Beautiful period adaptation of Flaubert's novel that deals with its complicated heroine! I feel that in this version, Flaubert's book main message is being respected. It is mostly about a woman wanting to experience all the pleasures of life and not being able to do it. Because of herself as well as because of her environment. I thought the actors and actresses were perfect in their role. In the end, Madame Bovary finds herself without friends and solutions. She understands how naive she has been with men and has no woman friend. Her whole world has collapsed. The cinematography and the costumes are simply gorgeous, but they're more than eye-candy, they are integrally connected to the emotional changes in Emma and the times in which she lived.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

I have not read much of the book so I can't speak for how well it follows, but I really liked the movie. The acting was excellent and there was barely any swearing or nudity. It was the first time I'd ever gotten jealous over a character's wardrobe. Emma Bovary's clothes were absolutely gorgeous.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hard to make this subject work. Unlike able characters in print don't usually make pleasant viewing. Still enjoyable enough for 4 stars from me. Credit to Altus/ prescience films funding it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

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Sophie Barthes

Director

Mia Wasikowska

Emma Bovary

Rhys Ifans

Monsieur Lheureux

Ezra Miller

Leon

Logan Marshall-Green

Marquis d'Andervilliers

Henry Lloyd-Hughes

Charles Bovary

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Robert Everett-Green

Globe and Mail

Barthes feels the need to improve on Flaubert, adding and dropping scenes and inventing social metaphors - mainly spiderwebs and corsets.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 3, 2015

Full Review

Linda Barnard

Toronto Star

For a film about passion, it feels oddly flat and often passionless.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 2, 2015

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

With her thousand-mile frown, Mia Wasikowska was born to play Victorian heroines, though she's a little too intelligent and self-aware for Flaubert's Emma Bovary.

Jun 18, 2015

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

It is Rhys Ifans playing the merchant of fancy goods that fuel Emma Bovary's relentless desires, who brings much needed energy and vitality to the movie.

Aug 13, 2020

Full Review

Sarah Marrs

Lainey Gossip

There is a lot to admire about Barthes' production values, but little to actually enjoy in the storytelling.

Oct 16, 2017

Full Review

Jay Kuehner

Cinema Scope

Most crucially and delectably, it is language-Flaubert's mots précises-that sways with seductive power and portent, which Barthes taps for all its symbolic suggestion.

Oct 10, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

Trapped in a loveless marriage and desperate for excitement, a doctor's wife (Mia Wasikowska) seeks love and fulfillment outside the bonds of matrimony.

Director: Sophie Barthes
Executive Producer: Anders Erden, Anne Sheehan, Tim Smith
Screenwriter: Sophie Barthes, Felipe Marino
Distributor: Alchemy
Production Co: A-Company Filmproduktion, Scope Pictures, Left Field Ventures
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre: Romance, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 12, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.2K

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