La Bonne Épouse is now streaming on Netflix from June 3, 2026. Directed by Martin Provost, this 2020 French comedy brings together Juliette Binoche, Yolande Moreau, Noémie Lvovsky and Edouard Baer for a story set in the late 1960s, at a moment when the certainties of a homemaking school start to crumble.
La Bonne Épouse
Film | 2020
Available on Netflix since June 3, 2026
Comedy | Runtime: 1h49
Directed by Martin Provost | Screenplay: Martin Provost and Séverine Werba
Starring Juliette Binoche, Yolande Moreau, Noémie Lvovsky, Edouard Baer and François Berléand
Original title: La Bonne Épouse
Nationality: France
In La Bonne Épouse, Paulette Van Der Beck runs a domestic-arts school with conviction, where young women are taught to manage a household and to conform to conjugal duty. When her husband dies, leaving her widowed and ruined, her certainties begin to fray.
The film unfolds on the eve of May ’68 in a France where the roles prescribed for women are being challenged. Between the return of a first love and the wave of emancipation sweeping through society, Paulette discovers that the “good wife” she taught herself to be could also choose her own freedom.
Martin Provost, the director of Séraphine, Violette and Sage Femme, returns here to a theme centered on women's journeys. The film leans more overtly into comedy than some of his previous feature-length works, while still anchoring itself in a clearly defined historical backdrop.
In the cast, Juliette Binoche stars as Paulette Van Der Beck, alongside Yolande Moreau, Noémie Lvovsky, Edouard Baer, François Berléand and Marie Zabukovec. The actress was returning to French cinema after La Vérité by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
La Bonne Épouse may appeal to Netflix subscribers seeking a period French comedy about the emancipation of women, schooling, and the social upheavals of the late 1960s. The film is less suited for viewers looking for a contemporary comedy or a purely romantic storyline.
The trailer for The Good Wife spotlights Paulette Van Der Beck, her domestic school, and the gap between the rules she teaches and the social changes on the horizon.
To go further, also check out our selection of Netflix’s June 2026 new releases, our guide to streaming releases on all platforms, and today’s pick: What to watch today on streaming.
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