How to Be a Good Wife (2020)

How to Be a Good Wife Poster
Original Title: La Bonne Épouse

Paulette Van Der Beck and her husband have been running the housekeeping school of Bitche in Alsace for many years. Their mission is to train teenage girls to become the perfect housewives at a time when women were expected to be subservient to their husband. After the sudden death of her husband, Paulette discovers that the school is on the verge of bankruptcy and has to take her responsibilities. But while preparations are underway for the best housekeeping competition TV show, she and her lively students start questioning their beliefs as the nation-wide protests of May 1968 transform society around them. Reunited with her first love, André, and with the help of her eccentric stepsister Gilberte and strict nun Marie-Therese, Paulette joins forces with the schoolgirls to overcome their suppressed status and become liberated women.

Film Background
"How to Be a Good Wife" is a French comedy-drama film launched in 2020. The film is directed by Martin Provost and includes distinguished stars such as Juliette Binoche, Noémie Lvovsky, and Yolande Moreau. The film depicts the struggles and change of females's functions in France during the 1960s.

Plot Overview
In "How to Be a Good Wife", Juliette Binoche plays Paulette Van Der Beck, who runs a school with her eccentric sister-in-law Gilberte (Moreau) and a nun called Sister Marie-Therese (Lvovsky). The school's function is to instruct teenage ladies on how to become "perfect housewives". Lessons consist of cooking, cleaning, and preserving their partner's home and ego. With her other half at the helm, Paulette preserves the school's running and remains committed to its conservative values.

However, the unexpected death of her hubby, Robert, overthrows her world. Faced with the school's imminent personal bankruptcy and emotional turmoils, Paulette discovers that her organization is on the brink of insolvency, needing an effective inspector's check out to remain open. Yet, while safeguarding her life's work, she finds herself questioning the relevance of their mentors amidst the extensive social modifications and ladies's freedom movement that marked the 1960s.

Developments and Climax
Throughout this period, Paulette suddenly meets her long-lost first love, André (played by Edouard Baer), who triggers her to see her life from a various viewpoint. This encounter results in a change in her that is as intense as the social changes around her.

An opportunity visit to the school by a group of feminist protesters forces Paulette and her trainees to face the extreme realities of their out-of-date concepts. The check out culminates in an entertaining yet poignant climax, where the institution's customers march in a women's liberation rally- a plain contrast to their old beliefs.

Character Evolution
Paulette's character develops from a conservative teacher who staunchly thinks in her school's vision to a liberal woman captivated by the changing times. The impact of the feminist protesters and the renewal of her love affair with André challenges her viewed norms. The plot perfectly catches her internal dispute and ultimate acceptance of the ladies's freedom movement of the 1960s.

Conclusion
"How to Be a Good Wife" offers a humorous yet informative story on the realities of social modification and the importance of females's functions in a quickly evolving world. The movie combines political commentary with private character advancement to discover the accomplishment of individual and societal emancipation over conservative standards. Additionally, Paulette's journey and the transformation of her students show the olden adage that it's never ever too late to transform and adapt to social changes.

With fascinating performances and a distinct historical viewpoint on women's rights, "How to Be a Good Wife" uses an appealing, thought-provoking, and entertaining viewing experience. The film welcomes the essence of discoveries, emancipation, and the gorgeous intertwining of personal journeys with broader societal advancements.

Top Cast

  • Juliette Binoche (small)
    Juliette Binoche
    Paulette Van Der Beck
  • Yolande Moreau (small)
    Yolande Moreau
    Gilberte Van der Beck
  • Noémie Lvovsky (small)
    Noémie Lvovsky
    Marie-Therese
  • Édouard Baer (small)
    Édouard Baer
    André Grunvald
  • François Berléand (small)
    François Berléand
    Robert Van der Beck
  • Marie Zabukovec (small)
    Marie Zabukovec
    Annie Fuchs
  • Anamaria Vartolomei (small)
    Anamaria Vartolomei
    Albane Des-deux-Ponts
  • Lily Taïeb (small)
    Lily Taïeb
    Yvette Ziegler
  • Pauline Briand (small)
    Pauline Briand
    Corinne Schwartz
  • Armelle (small)
    Armelle
    Christiane Rougemont
  • Marine Berlanger (small)
    Marine Berlanger
    Residential school student