Le Divorce (2003)

37% of critics liked it
(134 reviews)
25% of users liked it
(17,273 ratings)

Based on the 1997 National Book Award-nominated novel of the same name by Diane Johnson (co-writer of the script for Stanley Kubrick's The Shining), Le Divorce is a romantic comedy from director James Ivory. Revisiting the "Americans in France" theme that Ivory explored in 1998's A Soldier's… More Based on the 1997 National Book Award-nominated novel of the same name by Diane Johnson (co-writer of the script for Stanley Kubrick's The Shining), Le Divorce is a romantic comedy from director James Ivory. Revisiting the "Americans in France" theme that Ivory explored in 1998's A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries, the film stars Kate Hudson as Isabel Walker. When she receives word that her pregnant poetess sister Roxy (Naomi Watts) has been left by her philandering French husband, artist Charles-Henri de Persand (Melvil Poupaud), Isabel offers her help and moral support. As the depressive Roxy struggles with the separation proceedings -- which include the rights to ownership of a work of art that's a family heirloom -- Isabel takes a job with author Olivia Pace and has a fling with the bohemian Yves (Romain Duris). But things get complicated when the younger, more impudent sister decides instead to pursue Charles' uncle, the snooty, married diplomat Edgar (Thierry Lhermitte), and when a mysterious man (Matthew Modine) starts stalking Roxy. Eventually, the rest of the plucky Walker clan has to come to the aid of the siblings. Stockard Channing and Sam Waterston co-star. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: James Ivory
Written By: James Ivory, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 8, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jan 27, 2004
Studio: 20th Century Fox Film

Critic Reviews

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
Quite le drag.
Tom Long, Detroit News
It is a well-dressed film filled with thought and sly observations.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
It pokes along like a Renault on an interstate, lacking drama or momentum.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It's all perfectly pleasant, but the movie lacks an urgent dramatic pulse, or a clear sense of whose story it's supposed to be, or even, from scene to scene, whether it's meant to be a comedy, drama or thriller.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The film's most successful performances come from those actors who have a subtle but firm grip on their otherwise skimpy characters -- Lhermitte and Caron, in particular.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
A delightful blend of American sensibility and French chaos in a movie that is sunny, surprising and consistently entertaining.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Not a frothy romantic comedy.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The movie is least successful when it tips from semi-serious to too-serious.
Derek Smith, Apollo Guide
No extras are included on the DVD.
Derek Smith, Apollo Guide
Its annoying need to be witty, profound, funny, and charming at all times makes what could have been a smart comedy a tiresome exercise in pleasing its audience.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
At the end when we should be thinking about love and lessons of maturity, we are left with Isabel shrugging off her latest mistake and charging headlong into who-knows-what.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Le Divorce is tres mediocre.
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal
It's difficult to find a character to connect with.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
I saw this AFTER I watched Gigli, and it's STILL the worst film I've seen in the last twelve months.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The only question the movie poses is how so many fine actors could have been conned into appearing in a story where they have so little to do.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the ending does nothing to dispel the feeling that one has just wasted 117 minutes of one's life on empty gestures.