Deneuve as a wife who saves the day in a bubbly French comedy

A celebration of '70s kitsch and a cunning commentary on the battle of the sexes, Francois Ozon's Potiche begins with French screen icon Catherine Deneuve trotting down a country path in her color-coordinated jogging outfit. She's communing with the birds and bunnies. She even stops to jot a bit of nature-inspired verse.

Things couldn't be merrier.

Except that Deneuve's character, Suzanne, is married to an insufferable chauvinist buffoon, Robert (Fabrice Luchini). He's run into trouble with the workers at his umbrella factory. In fact, a strike has been called, and he's been taken hostage.

And so Suzanne, a housewife with little to do but write poetry and keep her husband company (when he's not cheating on her with his secretary), steps in, and steps up. She forms an alliance with a local pol and union organizer - played by that Gallic screen giant Gerard Depardieu. And she saves the company from financial ruin on top of it.

Adapted from a comedic French theater piece, Potiche (the word is a derogatory term - a woman a couple of tiers down from "trophy wife") is light, larky stuff. But the underlying message of empowerment and equality is nothing to sneeze at. Suzanne rights the business, deals with her adult (but immature) children, and puts her husband in his place.

Ozon, who worked with Deneuve in 8 Women (and tips his hat to several Deneuve classics, including The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), gives his star all the room she needs. It's a pleasure to watch the actress and Depardieu play off each other, and just a pleasure to watch her.EndText