Colette (2018 film)

Last updated

Colette
Colette.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Wash Westmoreland
Screenplay by
Story byRichard Glatzer
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Giles Nuttgens
Edited by Lucia Zucchetti
Music by Thomas Adès
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 20, 2018 (2018-01-20)(Sundance)
  • September 21, 2018 (2018-09-21)(United States)
  • January 11, 2019 (2019-01-11)(United Kingdom)
Running time
112 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Hungary
LanguageEnglish
Box office$14.3 million [2]

Colette is a 2018 biographical drama film directed by Wash Westmoreland, from a screenplay by Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Richard Glatzer, based upon the life of the French novelist Colette. It stars Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Denise Gough.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2018. It was released in the United States on September 21, 2018, by Bleecker Street and 30West. The film premiered in London at the BFI London Film Festival [3] and was released in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2019, by Lionsgate.

Plot

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette is a young woman from the rural Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye at the end of the 19th century, who begins an affair with Willy. Willy eventually brings Colette to Paris as his bride, with socialites expressing surprise a libertine like him would marry. Willy refers to himself as a "literary entrepreneur", employing several ghostwriters to write articles. However, he finds the limited output does not bring in enough revenue to cover his expenses, due to his expensive lifestyle entertaining socialites. He commissions one ghostwriter to work on a novel while Colette manages his correspondence. One day, Colette finds Willy with a prostitute, leading to a separation. He eventually persuades her to return, promising honesty.

The real Colette in "Reve d'Egypte" ColetteReveEgypte1907.JPG
The real Colette in "Rêve d'Egypte"

Colette also tells him of her days as a schoolgirl. With Willy increasingly unable to pay his writers, he asks Colette to write a novel based on her school stories. She completes a draft of Claudine à l'école , which Willy rejects for lacking plot. Years later, some of Willy's furniture is repossessed, and he stumbles on the draft. He suggests revisions and the novel is submitted and published under Willy's byline. Claudine à l'école becomes a bestseller, particularly attracting a female readership. Faced with his first true hit, Willy tells his publisher a sequel is coming, purchases a country house, and locks Colette in a room there to force her to write. Initially objecting, Colette writes Claudine à Paris, which becomes another bestseller.

As Colette and Willy become an increasingly recognized couple, she attracts the notice of Georgie Raoul-Duval, a Louisiana debutante, and they begin an affair. Jealous, Willy also begins an affair with Georgie. Colette discovers this, and bases her next book, Claudine en ménage, on the episode. Fearing scandal, Georgie's husband purchases and burns all copies of the book before sale, but does not purchase the copyright, allowing Willy to reprint and sell the book.

The Claudine books enjoy continued success, including a stage adaptation, starring Polaire. Colette begins an affair with Missy, who presents as male. They begin dancing and develop an act at the Moulin Rouge that draws a morally outraged response when they kiss onstage. Willy cites the act as a financial disaster and sells all rights to the Claudine books for 5,000 francs without Colette's knowledge. Angered and feeling betrayed, Colette leaves Willy. Willy asks his employee Paul to burn the Claudine manuscripts; Paul returns them to Colette instead.

Colette becomes recognized as a writer in her own right, beginning with The Vagabond , published under her byline, about her music hall experience.

Cast

Production

Cogges Manor Farm Cogges Manor Farm - The Walled Garden in August 2013.JPG
Cogges Manor Farm

It was first announced on February 1, 2016, that Colette would be directed by Still Alice 's (2014) Wash Westmoreland, [4] who co-wrote the script with his late Still Alice collaborator and husband Richard Glatzer. The film reunites the producing team behind Carol , Number 9 Films and Killer Films. [5] Bold Films financed and co-produced the film, marking the company's first foray into the UK.[ citation needed ] On the same day Deadline announced that Keira Knightley would star as Colette. [4] On May 15, 2017, it was announced that Dominic West would join the cast as Colette's first husband. Chris Pratt, Josh Henderson and Sullivan Stapleton were also considered. [6] Deadline announced on May 23, 2017, that Denise Gough, Fiona Shaw, Robert Pugh, and Rebecca Root had joined Knightley and West in the film. [7] On June 21, 2017, it was announced that Eleanor Tomlinson and Aiysha Hart had joined the cast. [8]

Gary Michael Walters announced that production would start filming in the summer of 2017. On May 26, 2017, the film's crew was spotted filming at Cogges Manor Farm, Witney in Oxfordshire. [9]

Cogges Manor Farm doubled as Collette's childhood home. Salcy Park in Northamptonshire was used as her country house. Most of the Paris scenes were not shot in Paris, but in Budapest, Hungary. [10]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2018. [11] Shortly after, Bleecker Street, 30West and Lionsgate acquired US and UK distribution rights to the film, respectively. [12] [13] It was released in the United States on September 21, 2018, to "select theatres" and wide released on October 12, 2018. [14] [15] It was released in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2019. [16]

Reception

Box office

Keira Knightley's performance received positive reviews. KeiraKnightleyByAndreaRaffin2011 (cropped).jpg
Keira Knightley's performance received positive reviews.

Colette grossed $5.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $9.1 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $14.3 million. [2]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 87% based on 222 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website critical consensus reads, "Formally familiar but a brilliant match for its lead, Colette is a thoroughly entertaining biopic and an overdue testament to Keira Knightley's underrated gifts." [17] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [18]

For RogerEbert.com , Nick Allen wrote a positive review after the film's world premiere at Sundance. He said, "As a period film that's more than ready for 2018, Colette embodies the power of thinking forward in more ways than one." [19] According to reviewer Manohla Dargis of The New York Times , "Mr. Westmoreland [film director of Colette] ... wanted to make a liberation story. He has succeeded, at times movingly ... The whole thing is too smooth, clean, and aspirational. And of course, he omits much ... but with a life this exuberantly full, how could he not?" [20]

Vikram Murthi at The A.V. Club , was less enthused, writing "Keira Knightley's charms fail to save the timely, tepid biopic Colette" and graded it "C+". [21]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
British Independent Film Awards 2 December 2018 Best Supporting Actor Dominic West Nominated [22] [23]
Best Costume DesignAndrea FleschNominated
Best Make Up & Hair DesignIvana PrimoracNominated
Best Production DesignMichael CarlinNominated
Dorian Awards January 12, 2019Unsung Film of the YearColetteNominated [24] [25]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 14, 2018 Best Original Score — Independent Film Thomas Adès Won [26]
Independent Spirit Awards February 23, 2019 Best Screenplay Richard Glatzer, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, and Wash Westmoreland Nominated [27]
Satellite Awards February 22, 2019 Best Original Score Thomas Adès Nominated [28]
[29]
Best Costume Design Andrea FleschNominated
Seattle Film Critics Society December 17, 2018Best Costume DesignAndrea FleschNominated [30] [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colette</span> French novelist (1873–1954)

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, known mononymously as Colette, was a French author and woman of letters. She was also a mime, actress, and journalist. Colette is best known in the English-speaking world for her 1944 novella Gigi, which was the basis for the 1958 film and the 1973 stage production of the same name. Her short story collection The Tendrils of the Vine is also famous in France.

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Keira Christina Knightley is an English actress. Known for her work in independent films and blockbusters, particularly period dramas, she has received numerous accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards, two BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, and a Laurence Olivier Award. In 2018, she was appointed an OBE at Buckingham Palace for services to drama and charity.

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Henry Gauthier-Villars, known by the pen name Willy, was a French fin de siècle writer and music critic who is today mostly known as the first husband of Colette. Other pseudonyms used by Gauthiers-Villars are: Henry Maugis, Robert Parville, l’Ex-ouvreuse du Cirque d’été, L’Ouvreuse, L’Ouvreuse du Cirque d’été, Jim Smiley, Henry Willy and Boris Zichine.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Film #77716: Colette". Lumiere . Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Colette". Box Office Mojo . IMDb. 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara; Alvarez, Joe (October 6, 2018). "Wash Westmoreland: "My dad started me making films"". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  4. 1 2 Jaafar, Ali (February 1, 2016). "Keira Knightley In Talks To Star In 'Colette' Biopic". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  5. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (February 1, 2016). "Keira Knightley in Talks to Star in 'Carol' Producers' 'Colette'". Variety . Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Keira Knightley drama 'Colette' adds Dominic West ahead of shoot". Screen Daily . Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  7. ↑ Lodderhose, Diana (May 23, 2017). "Denise Gough, Fiona Shaw, Robert Pugh & Rebecca Root Round Out Cast For 'Colette'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  8. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (June 21, 2017). "Eleanor Tomlinson Cast In 'Colette'; Vlad Alexis Boards 'Code 8'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Film crews at farm for Keira Knightley movie". Witney Gazette. May 26, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  10. ↑ The Jaw-Dropping Decor of Colette, Keira Knightley's New Film About the Visionary French Novelist by Juliet Izon, September 21, 2018, retrieved December 11, 2021
  11. ↑ Debruge, Peter (November 29, 2017). "Sundance Film Festival Unveils Full 2018 Features Lineup". Variety. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  12. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 21, 2018). "Keira Knightley-Starrer 'Colette' In First Big Sundance Deal: Bleecker Street & 30WEST Team For U.S. Rights". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ Lang, Brent (January 21, 2018). "Sundance: Lionsgate Nabs U.K. Rights for 'Colette' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Colette release schedule". Bleecker Street Media. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  15. ↑ Chuba, Kirsten (February 16, 2018). "Bleecker Street Announces Release Dates, Including 'Colette,' 'Papillon,' 'On Chesil Beach'". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Colette". Launching Films. Archived from the original on October 12, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Colette (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Colette Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ Allen, Nick (February 5, 2018). "Sundance 2018: Shirkers, Generation Wealth, Colette". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  20. ↑ Dargis, Manohla (September 20, 2018). "Review: 'Colette' and One Woman's Lust for Life". The New York Times . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Keira Knightley's charms fail to save the timely, tepid biopic Colette". The A.V. Club . September 19, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Craft Winners Announced" (Press release). London: British Independent Film Awards. November 15, 2018. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  23. ↑ "The Favourite Wins 10 Including Best British Independent Film" (Press release). London: British Independent Film Awards. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ Kilkenny, Katie (January 3, 2019). "'The Favourite,' 'Pose,' 'Killing Eve' Lead Dorian Award Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  25. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (January 8, 2019). "Dorian Awards: 'The Favourite' Named Film of the Year". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. November 15, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  27. ↑ "34th Film Independent Spirits Nominations Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Los Angeles: Independent Spirit Awards. November 15, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  28. ↑ "International Press Academy The 23rd Annual Satellite Awards™ 2018 Nominations Ballot" (PDF) (Press release). International Press Academy. November 29, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  29. ↑ "'Roma', 'A Star is Born' Set for Top Honors at 23rd Satellite™ Awards" (Press release). International Press Academy. January 3, 2019. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  30. ↑ "'The Favourite' Leads the 2018 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations" (Press release). Seattle, WA: Seattle Film Critics Society. December 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  31. ↑ "'Roma' Named Best Picture of 2018 by Seattle Film Critics Society" (Press release). Seattle, WA: Seattle Film Critics Society. December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
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