How to Be a Good Wife
Paulette Van Der Beck and her husband have been running the housekeeping school of Bitche in Alsace for many years. Their mission is to train teenage girls to become the perfect housewives at a time when women were expected to be subservient to their husband. After the sudden death of her husband, Paulette discovers that the school is on the verge of bankruptcy and has to take her responsibilities. But while preparations are underway for the best housekeeping competition TV show, she and her lively students start questioning their beliefs as the nation-wide protests of May 1968 transform society around them. Reunited with her first love, André, and with the help of her eccentric stepsister Gilberte and strict nun Marie-Therese, Paulette joins forces with the schoolgirls to overcome their suppressed status and become liberated women.
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France Channel
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The Roku Channel
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Kanopy
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Cast
35 people
Juliette Binoche
Paulette Van Der Beck
Known for
Godzilla
Chocolat
Yolande Moreau
Gilberte Van der Beck
Known for
Amélie
The Brand New Testament
Noémie Lvovsky
Marie-Therese
Known for
House of Pleasures
Camille Rewinds
Édouard Baer
André Grunvald
Known for
Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia
Battle of the Classes
François Berléand
Robert Van der Beck
Known for
The Transporter
The Chorus
Marie Zabukovec
Annie Fuchs
Known for
Play or Die
Niki
Anamaria Vartolomei
Albane Des-deux-Ponts
Known for
Mickey 17
Happening
Lily Taïeb
Yvette Ziegler
Known for
Lou!
Bergman Island
Pauline Briand
Corinne Schwartz
Also in
37 secondes
Missing Angel
Armelle
Christiane Rougemont
Known for
Amélie
Fatal
Marine Berlanger
Residential school student
No other roles listed
Clémence Blondeau
Residential school student
No other roles listed
Martin Provost Director · Séverine Werba Writer Grégoire Hetzel Composer
United States release May 11, 2021 · Produced in France, Belgium · Production France 3 Cinéma, Orange Studio
Production
Les Films du Kiosque
Production
France 3 Cinéma
Production
Orange Studio
Production
uMedia
Production
Memento Production
Production
Imagine Films
Production
France · Belgium
Produced in
Languages
Original title
La Bonne Épouse
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
French
Release dates
Switzerland · March 11, 2020
Theatrical · French
France · March 11, 2020
Theatrical
United States · May 11, 2021
Premiere · RiverRun International Film Festival
Australia
August 26, 2021 · Theatrical
Brazil
January 7, 2021 · Theatrical · California Filmes
August 14, 2021 · Digital
Canada
August 21, 2020 · Theatrical
September 20, 2020 · Premiere · Cinéfest Sudbury
September 21, 2020 · Digital · Cinéfest Sudbury
September 24, 2020 · Digital · CIFF
October 2, 2020 · Digital · MK2 | MILE END
October 3, 2020 · Premiere · CIFF
March 6, 2021 · TV · Super Écran
Czechia
July 16, 2020 · Theatrical
Denmark
July 23, 2020 · Theatrical
Estonia
September 11, 2020 · Theatrical
Finland
September 11, 2020 · Theatrical
France
June 22, 2020 · Theatrical · Re-release
October 6, 2020 · Physical · DVD
Germany
August 5, 2021 · Theatrical
Hungary
July 9, 2020 · Theatrical
Israel
September 9, 2021 · Theatrical
Italy
June 24, 2021 · Theatrical
Japan
May 28, 2021 · Theatrical
Lithuania
October 16, 2020 · Theatrical
Luxembourg
March 12, 2020 · Premiere · Luxembourg City Film Festival
Netherlands
June 25, 2020 · Theatrical
New Zealand
June 10, 2021 · Premiere · French Film Festival Aotearoa
Norway
July 10, 2020 · Theatrical
Poland
July 24, 2020 · Theatrical
Portugal
April 29, 2021 · Theatrical
Slovakia
July 16, 2020 · Theatrical
South Korea
July 12, 2023 · Theatrical
Spain
January 6, 2021 · Theatrical
Switzerland
October 29, 2020 · Theatrical · German
Taiwan
May 8, 2020 · Theatrical
Türkiye
October 22, 2020 · Premiere · Istanbul Film Festival
Ukraine
July 1, 2021 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
November 27, 2020 · Premiere · French Film Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.