Madame Bovary by BBC Home Entertainment Highly Recommended by Whom You Know Our Coverage Sponsored by Table D'Hote
Led by Executive Chef and Owner Bill Knapp, Table D'Hote is among the most elite and coveted culinary destinations of Manhattan's prestigious Upper East side. Reminiscent of a French countryside in ambiance paired with locally sourced ingredients that entice guests to return again and again, Table D'Hote is truly an undiscovered gem to those that have not yet started to frequent this venue. Bill graduated from The Culinary Institute of America in 1994 and has worked at several established restaurants in New York City including The "21" Club, Patroon, and Bryant Park Grill, before making his way to Danny Meyers and Tom Colicchio's famed Gramercy Tavern. In the fall of 2003, Bill accepted the position of Chef de Cuisine at Tom Colicchio's Craft Restaurant and later joined the team at Taste Catering on New York's West Side. After a few years, he was sought after to take the position as Executive Banquet Chef at The Loeb Central Park Boathouse. All of this culinary expertise evolved through each of these experiences truly shines at Table D'Hote, Bill's own creation today, coming up on its one-year anniversary. On September 9th, 2011, Bill re-opened Table d'Hote in New York City, at 44 East 92nd Street, a well-respected establishment opened and operated since 1978 by two fabulous people, Vivek Bandhu and Lauri Gibson. Whether you are indulging in the crabcakes, grass-fed steak or the decadent desserts (the blueberry peach tarte is divine!), Table D'Hote boasts a menu that includes the finest delights to please everyone. By executing great dishes with a seasonally inspired menu and maintaining a subtle ambiance, Bill impresses all that travel from near and far with his extensive diverse New York experience, creative approaches, desire, and passion to sourcing only the best ingredients available to culminate in a truly unparalleled dining experience.
Whom You Know has Highly Recommended Table D'Hote:
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When was the most perfect moment of your life? Based on the novel by Gustav Flaubert, this winner of a film is one you absolutely cannot miss, filled with fantastic characters and a time-tested proven plot that will immediately draw you in and get you hooked on the drama. Life is indeed complicated! Perhaps a lesson or two will be learned by you watching this story unfold, though regardless if it becomes philosophically thought-provoking, you absolutely will become entertained by the characters, one of which we know quite well already.
Though at Whom You Know we are used to Hugh Bonneville as the Earl of Grantham, of course in Downton Abbey, in Madame Bovary he makes quite a different appearance as the less polished Dr. Charles Bovary! You’ll also remember him from Notting Hill, where he played another character altogether….and in each he has always impressed us and kept us intrigued as to the next role he’ll undertake-but here the real character is his wife: Madame Bovary who is among the most unique characters of her time. With inclinations to go to the garden in the middle of the night and an insatiable appetite for sociability in town, the heroine from the countryside once she gets a taste of the peerage (which we learned about here) will discover that she simply cannot get enough.
With a feelings that range from being applauded and admired to feeling like she’s buried alive, Madame Bovary will gain your sympathies and perhaps your empathies as you grow to understand the challenges women faced in such a time and society. The trials and tribulations of the medical field at the time will also astound you.
If you have read this book before or are familiar with different iterations of it, be aware that this version by BBC Home Entertainment is the best one we’ve seen yet. Don’t you want to see what it’s like to dance with a Viscount? And didn’t you know blue veils illuminate the skin? Madame Bovary reminds us so much of Audrey Hepburn in the cathedral scene meeting Leon. From scene to scene, you’ll find yourself cheering for her as she keeps trying to make life what she wants it to be. Whom You Know Highly Recommends Madame Bovary by BBC Home Entertainment. Our esteemed panel says:
From the library of every delusional girl's dreams comes this clean presentation by the BBC of Madame Bovary. Of course, perhaps Flaubert didn't mean it to be a handbook of fallen virtue/womanhood, but Emma's path leads her into a downward spiral never intended to be uplifting. It's a story of a lost little girl trapped in the body of a lost little woman who dreams of grandeur and romance, but is little equipped to deal with any modicum of adulthood. Poor Emma. Beautifully portrayed by Frances O'Connor, and accompanied by a stalwart cast of handsome shoulders to lean upon, Emma lurches from pillar to post in her quest for fairytales. The acting is superb, and the faces will be familiar to you. When the dashing Rodolphe, one of Emma's lovers, calls her a gambler, she can't quite grasp where life has taken her. And so , she succumbs. And we are left with the vision of her lost life, crafted superbly by BBC Home Entertainment. it's a bodice ripper, and beyond.
I remember having to read Madam Bovary in literature classes in college and finding it somewhat of a struggle. I wanted to like it, but couldn't find it in me to read more than the excerpts that were assigned. When I saw that BBC Home Entertainment had taken on filming Madam Bovary, I was thrilled. I knew it would be a wonderful adaptation if the BBC Home Entertainment company was behind it. I was so glad I was able to watch this film. I was so enthralled during the film. Most movies I watch at home, I'm always doing something else while I'm watching. Not with this one. I haven't seen any of the other film adaptations, but I don't think I can now. The acting was brilliant and believable. This is a movie I could, and will watch over and over again.
Madame Bovary is one of those rare works of literature - a shining gem so exquisite that is read and re-read, interpreted and re-interpreted, and, of course, made into movies. Although there are many film versions of Gustave Flaubert's classic, the version available from BBC Home Entertainment is a standout. Originally released in 2000 and re-released in 2012, this interpretation of the 1856 novel breathes new life into the 156-year-old story. The plot centers of course, around the titular character, Madame Bovary, who is played here by Frances O'Connor. Longing to escape her meager upbringing, Emma Rouault marries local doctor Charles Bovary (played by Hugh Bonneville). However, her joy at escaping her humble beginnings is short-lived and she soon begins to grow bored with her life as the doctor's wife. She dreams of romance and excitement, and soon finds it, first with young student Leon (Hugh Dancy), and then with Rodolphe, a charming, debonair aristocrat. The characters are beautifully brought to life by the talented cast, especially Ms. O'Connor, who somehow manages to make Madame Bovary sympathetic despite her selfish choices and disregard for others' feelings. Ms. Connor's portrayal makes Madame Bovary human and relatable. Although her choices are morally questionable, one finds oneself rooting for her happiness, thanks in large part to Ms. O'Connor's thoughtful and thorough interpretation. The performances delivered by the rest of the cast are equally strong, making for a riveting version of this classic story. Two thumbs up from this panelist!
This movie is based on the novel by Gustave Flaubert. I have to be honest, I never read the novel. While I had heard of Madame Bovary, I did not really know what the story was about. The story plays well with today's audiences. The main character, Emma, is unhappy in her marriage and ends up having an affair. I like the choice of casting and all were well suited to their characters. The production is done very well and the actors do a very good job. I got sucked into the story and the 2 hours passed quickly. I definitely recommend Madame Bovary if you are looking for a movie to watch. It is well worth it.
I have always wanted to read Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert. Unfortunately, I have not yet gotten around to it. Thankfully, BBC Home Entertainment has released the next best thing! Their film adaptation of the classic story was absolutely riveting! I was so intrigued by the story, I could not tear my eyes away from the screen. After marrying Charles Bovary, Emma finds herself involved in affair after affair, constantly searching for love and fulfillment. It can't get juicier than that! The story is a true masterpiece, and it is executed brilliantly here. With actors such as Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Frances O'Connor (Mansfield Park, The Importance of Being Earnest), you know you are in for a real treat. Pick up a copy before the end of the week, and you can have the perfect movie night this weekend!
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Street Date: July 3, 2012
Suggested Retail Price: DVD $29.98 ($37.48 in Canada)
Length: Approx. 152 minutes + bonus features/ single disc
Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Frances O’Connor (Mansfield Park, The Importance of Being Earnest) star in this splendid adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s dramatic masterpiece. With dreams of escaping her provincial upbringing, Emma Rouault (O’Connor) marries local doctor Charles Bovary (Bonneville), and moves in with him. But it is not long before she feels constrained and frustrated by married life. Ignoring her devoted husband and immersing herself in romantic fantasies, Emma begins a string of affairs. First, a young student, Léon (Hugh Dancy, King Arthur), captures her imagination, but when the dashing aristocrat, Rodolphe, shows Emma the alternatives to married life, she enters into the affair with body and soul. Romantic and tragic, Flaubert’s story of a woman’s quest for fulfillment in love is an enduring classic not to be missed. Bonus features include: A Complex Heart: Gustave Flaubert, a 30-minute profile of the author and the places that inspired him.
