Dir Anne Fontaine
Gemma Arterton now seems to be the go to girl for adaptations of Posy Simmons’ entertaining graphic novels. She’s right on the money as an English rose in the French countryside, as Anne Fontaine wrings all possible charms – freshly baked bread, adorable dogs, hot extramarital sex – from either side of the Channel. Even Martin Joubert (Fabrice Luchini), Gemma Bovery’s obsessively interested neighbour, remains charming rather than creepy. However, the sexy whimsy comes to an end with the book’s bleak twist, after which the film has to speed towards the finish line before its audience realises exactly how depressed they now are.