SnoopyStyle Catherine (Fanny Ardant) suspects her husband Bernard (Gérard Depardieu) is cheating on her. She meets call girl Marlène (Emmanuelle Béart) and hires her to seduce Bernard. She renames her Nathalie and gives her insights into him. Nathalie comes back regularly to give reports on details of their sexual encounters.The twist is telegraphed a mile away. When it's revealed, it is without tension or drama. I would rather the movie be straight forward and show the truth right from the start. It could have gone into much deeper waters. The sexual connections with its accompanying tension have the more interesting possibilities. This is torture waiting the movie to do the 'reveal'.

insomniac_rod I watched this movie in theaters until 2005 although the movie was released in 2003. I didn't regret because the wait was worth.I think the plot and events are oriented for a mature audience; specifically for married couples who are passing hard times.The character of Natalie (or Nathalie X as subtitled here in México) is sexy, intriguing, and somewhat evil. She's a woman that may fool everyone with her lies and poses. Everything in the movie will deal with him as she will play angel and devil at the same time with the couple.The ending will leave everyone satisfied as it's an unexpected plot twist.I can recommend this movie for anyone who is looking for intelligent movies with mature situations. Those kind of situations that you may think never happen but that there's a possibility for them to come true...

bitter_sweet_devil "Nathalie" proves that the French filmmakers are masters when it comes to examining sentimental human relationships. Now I know how hard marriages are to manage, how complicated it is. I've always admired the "honesty" of the system of IMDb, but the ratings they've given this film does it no justice at all. Can hardly believe that so few people have appreciated it.Emanuelle Béart is so beautiful, sexy, erotic, malicious; she is perfect for this role - the sadness behind her quiet, observant, etching eyes. Géard Depardieu did a wonderful job portraying his charming character. He must be more than 50 years old, yet, by the end of the film, even I have fallen for his charm. Fanny Ardant fitted into her goody housewife role, most of all was her chemistry with Béart, full of warmth.The full-on English soundtracks throughout the movie suits the movie well, and I am planning on adding them to my collections. A little before Béart, Depardieu and Ardant were supposed to have the fateful meeting at the diner together, I did expect it coming, shortly before Ardant and Depardieu's exchange at breakfast, before Ardant and Béart's conversation at Nathalie's apartment. However, I was still not sure; when it was revealed, I cried. I am extremely touched by this heartwarming film.

gradyharp The French have a way with steamy films that makes the rest of the cinematic world seem bland in comparison. NATHALIE is fine case in point. Based on an idea by Philippe Blasband and transformed into a superb screenplay by Jacques Fieschi, François-Olivier Rousseau and the director Anne Fontaine, this incredibly well acted, subtle, understated film explores the many facets of adultery - from the woman's point of view. The result is a suspenseful, erotic, intelligent film that provides an opportunity for three of France's greatest actors to demonstrate their credentials.Catherine (the still very beautiful and gifted Fanny Ardant) is a gynecologist married to the successful Bernard (Gérard Depardieu in one of his more subtle roles) and they have a stay-at-home hippy son (Rodolphe Pauly) who goes about his life much the same as his parents: there is superficial companionship but little in depth relationship. The marriage seems satisfactory until Catherine suspects Bernard of having affairs, a fact that Bernard very honestly confesses to having: in his eyes the affairs are sexual dalliances that mean nothing. Catherine is shocked, attempts to gain some support from her insular but worldly mother (a fine Judith Magre) who tells Catherine it is a normal situation in older marriages.Catherine visits a bar, a private club for consignations, and there she meets Marlène (the extraordinary Emmanuelle Béart) and eventually buys Marlène's services as a prostitute to meet her husband and then tell her all about the encounters. It is agreed that Marlène will be known as 'Nathalie'. From this point on Catherine and Nathalie meet after Nathalie has encounters with Bernard and describes the acts of the encounters in vivid and lurid detail. Catherine is fascinated and continues to pay Nathalie for on going encounters and subsequent voyeuristic descriptions. Catherine even has a one-night stand of her own with bartender François (Wladimir Yordanoff) in an attempt to understand her husband's need for infidelity.Despite the setup of 'private investigator and prostitute detective' the two women become friends. When Catherine realizes she has enough evidence against Bernard to leave him there is a final encounter of the three (Catherine, Bernard, Nathalie) that brings the ingenious surprise ending - an ending to fine to share as it would spoil the film for viewers new to the story.Ardant is simply radiant as Catherine, playing the role of the victim wife of an adulterous husband with supreme dignity. Likewise Depardieu makes his Bernard so understated and profoundly honest that the conclusion in retrospect should have been suspected. Béart is at once wholly physical in her prostitute role yet maintains the inner core of a confused woman that keeps us on her side as she does her job. The production values are all first rate (except for some ragged editing) and the direction of Anne Fontaine is bristling with intrigue and wholly convincing in her development of this strange tale. Despite the dialogue being X-rated there is very little actual sex in this film: that makes it not only more powerful but as the ending is revealed adds to the solidity of the story. In French with English subtitles. Highly recommended for art film lovers. Grady Harp