Madame Bovary

Madame Bovary

Year: 2015

Runtime: 118 min

Language: English

Director: Sophie Barthes

Drama

Mia Wasikowska portrays a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage to a provincial doctor. Yearning for a more romantic and fulfilling life, she seeks excitement and passion through illicit affairs. Her pursuit of these desires leads to financial ruin and ultimately, a tragic downfall, exposing the destructive nature of illusion and the constraints of societal expectations.

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Timeline & Setting – Madame Bovary (2015)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Madame Bovary (2015). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Mid-1800s

During the mid-1800s, Europe was undergoing significant social and cultural changes, transitioning towards modernity. This time period was marked by rigid social classes, with the upper class enjoying luxuries, while many others faced economic struggles. Emma's experiences reflect the constraints placed on women and the pressures of societal expectations during this pivotal time.

Location

Normandy, France, Yonville

The movie takes place in mid-1800s Normandy, France, particularly in the small town of Yonville. This picturesque region is known for its beautiful landscapes and agricultural lifestyle, providing a stark contrast to Emma's yearning for the extravagant life of the upper class. Yonville itself serves as a provincial backdrop, highlighting Emma's dissatisfaction with her mundane existence as a country doctor's wife.

🌳 Countryside 🏙️ Town

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

Main Characters – Madame Bovary (2015)

Meet the key characters of Madame Bovary (2015), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Emma Bovary (Mia Wasikowska)

Emma Bovary is a complex character driven by her romantic ideals and the desire for a life filled with passion and luxury. Despite her beauty and intelligence, she feels stifled by her boring marriage to Charles and the provincial life of Yonville. Emma's reckless decisions, fueled by her discontent, ultimately lead to her tragic downfall.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Romance 💔 Tragedy 🌪️ Ambition

Charles Bovary (Henry Lloyd-Hughes)

Charles Bovary, Emma's husband, is a well-meaning but dull man, more focused on his medical practice than on his wife's longing for excitement. His obliviousness to Emma's unhappiness illustrates the emotional disconnect in their marriage. Despite his love for Emma, he is unable to provide the passion she seeks, exacerbating her feelings of isolation.

👨‍⚕️ Doctor ❤️ Love 😔 Obliviousness

Leon Dupuis (Ezra Miller)

Leon Dupuis is a young clerk who shares Emma's romantic sentiments and serves as her love interest. Although he feels a deep connection with Emma, he initially lacks the courage to pursue her. His eventual affair with Emma highlights both their desires and the moral complications of their choices, ultimately leading to mutual regret.

❤️ Romance 🙈 Shy 😢 Regret

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

Major Themes – Madame Bovary (2015)

Explore the central themes of Madame Bovary (2015), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Despair

The theme of despair is central to Emma's journey in 'Madame Bovary.' As she seeks fulfillment and excitement beyond her uninspired marriage, her relentless pursuit of romantic ideals leads to profound disillusionment. Emma's final descent into despair encapsulates the consequences of unattainable expectations and the limits of personal agency.

💸 Materialism

Materialism plays a significant role in Emma's decisions and actions throughout the film. Her fixation on luxury goods and maintaining an appearance of wealth ultimately drives her deeper into debt. This obsession highlights the dangers of consumerism and the overwhelming impact of societal values on personal happiness.

Last Updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:47

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Explore Movie Threads

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Female Tragic Downfall Stories like Madame Bovary

Stories of women whose yearning for more leads to an inescapable, bleak fate.If you were captivated by the tragic arc of Emma Bovary, explore more movies like Madame Bovary that follow women whose pursuit of fulfillment leads to despair. These similar dramas feature female protagonists breaking free from oppressive lives, only to find their desires lead to a bleak and devastating conclusion.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a clear, often linear, descent. It begins with a woman feeling suffocated by her circumstances, leading her to seek escape through romance, status, or rebellion. Her initial hopes are dashed as her actions accumulate consequences—financial ruin, social ostracization, broken relationships—culminating in a final, irreversible tragic event that underscores the futility of her struggle.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on a specific character archetype and narrative arc: the dissatisfied woman. They share a melancholic tone, heavy emotional weight, and a bleak ending that collectively create a powerful, somber viewing experience about the high cost of defiance and desire.

Bleak Slow Burn Dramas like Madame Bovary

Steady-paced dramas where a heavy, melancholic mood builds towards tragedy.For viewers who appreciated the methodical pacing and overwhelming sadness of Madame Bovary, this list features movies with a similar feel. Discover more slow burn dramas like Madame Bovary, where a steady, melancholic tone builds a heavy emotional weight leading to an ultimately tragic and bleak ending.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is one of gradual, inevitable decline. The pacing is steady, refusing to rush, which makes the tragic outcome feel both shocking and fateful. There is a strong cause-and-effect chain where character flaws and circumstances interact, but the overall mood of melancholy and oppression is the primary driver, ensuring the ending feels like the only possible conclusion.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by a very specific combination of tone, pacing, and emotional payoff. The shared experience is one of being immersed in a sorrowful, oppressive mood that builds steadily toward a finale offering no redemption or hope, leaving a lasting impression of profound sadness.

Unlock the Full Story of Madame Bovary

Don't stop at just watching — explore Madame Bovary in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Madame Bovary is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Madame Bovary Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Madame Bovary, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Madame Bovary Summary

Madame Bovary Timeline

Track the full timeline of Madame Bovary with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Madame Bovary Timeline

Madame Bovary Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Madame Bovary that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Madame Bovary Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Madame Bovary

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Madame Bovary: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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