Review 492: Colette

Colette is the most remarkable true story and a fascinating character study of one of history's most celebrated authors.

After marrying a successful Parisian writer known commonly as "Willy" (Dominic West), Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley) is transplanted from her childhood home in rural France to the intellectual and artistic splendour of Paris. Soon after, Willy convinces Colette to ghostwrite for him. She pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a witty and brazen country girl named Claudine, sparking a bestseller and a cultural sensation. After its success, Colette and Willy become the talk of Paris and their adventures inspire additional Claudine novels. Colette's fight over creative ownership defies gender roles and drives her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression.

The plot is one of the most remarkable historical tales ever put on film.

Director Wash Westmoreland's direction is magnificent, the cinematography is gorgeous and captures the beauty and elegance of late 1800s and early 1900s France. The production design (recreating late 1800s/early 1900s France) is splendid, the score by Thomas Ades is beautiful, the costumes are lavish, the make up is rich and wonderfully detailed

Keira Knightley is right at home in the role of Colette.

Dominic West is brilliantly and appropriately charismatic and blustering in the role of Willy, constantly on the make showing off to the crowd.

Eleanor Tomlinson is joy

Denise Gough is also very effective as Mathilde de Morny aka "Missy"

Fiona Shaw also provides great moral support in the role of Colette's mother, Sido.

4.5/5.

The Anonymous Critic.