Review: ‘Madame’ has a charming quality you can’t ignore

A bitchy Toni Collette and iconic Spanish actress Rossy de Palma cross swords in this delightfully funny comedy drama about wealth and class distinction in Paris.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Collette with such venom in her veins, playing Anne, a fabulously wealthy American living in a manor house in Paris with Bob, her limp husband, played by the always reliable Harvey Keitel.

Her maid Maria (De Palma, best known for her roles in Pedro Almodovar’s early masterpieces) runs the large household with military precision and is loved by everyone – except Anne, who treats her abominably. Maria is kind and thoughtful and knows her place in the scheme of things.

While preparing a particularly luxurious dinner for sophisticated international friends, the perfect hostess Anne discovers there are 13 guests. Panic-stricken, she insists her loyal maid Maria disguise herself as a mysterious Spanish noblewoman to even out the numbers.

Too much good wine and some playful chat lead Maria to accidentally endear herself to a dandy British art broker (Michael Smiley). This upsets Anne, partly because it violates the established class structure and partly because she’s jealous that her maid has a more fulfilling love life than she does.

Picture: Film Frame

The budding romance has the volcanic Anne incensed and she ends up chasing her maid around Paris, plotting to destroy this most unexpected and joyous love affair.

Writer/director Amanda Sthers focuses her energies on Maria and Anne to the detriment of the other characters, including Keitel, who fade into the background. Tom Hughes, of Victoria TV fame, plays Bob’s artistic son Steven, without much impact.

By concentrating on the likeable Maria, the audience is forced into a hate relationship with Anne for her conniving and manipulative nature.

The unusual-looking Spanish actress De Palma is the film’s real shining light. Given a well-written character and a semi-interesting story, de Palma keeps us engaged throughout. Maria comes across as a warm, naive woman who has been manipulated into unfortunate circumstances.

Collette’s character is brutal and her snide remarks and antagonism become irritating. Her naked night swimming scene is redundant. Keitel’s character is insufficiently developed to have any effect on proceedings.

All in all, Madame has a charming quality, despite lacking substance and focus. One cannot ignore it completely.

Info

Cast: Toni Collette, Harvey Keitel, Rossy De Palma, Michael Smiley, Tom Hughes.

Director: Amanda Sthers.