It’s a rare – if not nonexistent – occurrence that Keira Knightley stars in a movie and someone says “Wow, I really DON’T want to see that.” If you’ve heard any of the buzz about Colette, Directed by Wash Westmoreland, I can only imagine you thought it sounded like a movie you definitely wanted to see. I’m here to confirm to you that this is the case – you want to see Colette.
A-Listers in Paris
Colette is about the late 1800s, early 1900s French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette who made her husband a very successful writer. Realizing he wasn’t selling any books and that he desperately needed money, “Willy” (Dominic West) encourages his wife to write about her experiences growing up so that he could sell the story under his name.
Naturally, the novel becomes a huge success and puts Willy on Paris’s A-list. Meanwhile, Colette watches from behind the curtain while her husband enjoys the glory. At first, their relationship remains fairly strong, but as the success and money control Willy, and as he forces Sidonie to write more Claudine novels, their relationship begins to deteriorate.
Keira Knightley is known for her roles in period movies, particularly about strong, historical, female figures. And to no one’s surprise, she knocks this one out of the park. Colette’s character is amazing on its own: a confident woman who embraces her sexuality and doesn’t let her husband wear her down. When you add Knightley to the picture, it just makes sense. She’s a strong actor and she certainly doesn’t fall short in this role.
Dominic West, Knightley’s opposite, also gives a thumbs-up performance. Willy is a typical man who lets success get to his head, all while attempting to stifle his wife’s talent. Although some of Colette’s writing comes out of being forced by Willy, Colette’s skill as a writer can’t be denied.
What’s nice about West‘s and Knightley’s performances is that they really bounce off each other and make the other look good. There’s no out-of-this-world romance between the characters, and it’s obvious from the beginning. They were friends and together made a team. However, Colette carried the whole team alone, which leads to their break up.
100 Years Later…
Of course, you can’t discuss this film and gloss over the fact that the subject matter is still extremely relevant today. First, there’s the matter of a man taking credit for a woman’s work because he doesn’t believe a female writer will sell. Second, Willy openly takes advantage of his own wife. But going even past the feminist themes at hand, there’s also LGBTQ+ issues in the story.
Colette has an affair with a woman, inspiring one of the Claudine novels, and later she even falls in love with Missy (Denise Gough), a queer female (I would prefer not to give the label transgender as the real Missy isn’t around to give themselves a label) who dresses in men’s clothes at a time when you could be arrested for doing such. Towards the end of the movie, Colette actually uses masculine pronouns to describe Missy.
While we have come a long way in these matters, people who don’t (as society deems) align with the sex that is on their birth certificate are still discriminated against today. So, to have this very public relationship in Colette’s time was incredibly progressive and especially brave for both her and Missy.
It’s so powerful to see this kind of relationship on screen; although we will never know how truly difficult it was for them, the couple was confident in themselves, each other, and their relationship. Hats off to Knightley (again) and Gough for their natural chemistry.
Colette: Here’s to the Future
This film touches on a few of today’s most vital conversations: how society treats women and how society treats those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. It’s incredible (not in a good way) that over 100 years later we’re still having arguments about these things, but I, for one, am happy that Walsh Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer decided to share it with us. These stories are important for progress and to those who actually experience them.
To sum it up: go watch this movie, you won’t regret it.
What do you think? Do we still have a long way to go in regards to feminism and the LGBTQ+ community?
Colette will see wide release on October 12, 2018. More release information here.
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