Colette (2018)

Colette has a delightfulness about it, inspired likely by its subject, a woman who lived mostly as she wanted, even when that was difficult, but managed with enough opportunity and privilege to be who she wanted to be in an age almost ready for her. Writer/director Walsh Westmoreland captures her adventurous and sweet spirit making a film which feels alive. It is just serious enough to capture the full gravitas of the story while being just joyous enough to capture her spirit.

Tales of men profiting off women and keeping women contained are commonplace as it has been so much of our human history. Westmoreland finds something charmingly refreshing in the tale of Colette that doesn't make it feel like just another women bucking her place in society story. Westmoreland succeeds mostly in how he finds balance. Colette (Keira Knightley) isn't the perfect proto-feminist, but she's manages to live as she wants. Her husband, Willy (Dominic West), isn't a total villain, and is often sympathetic despite some of his worst behaviors. Westmoreland seems to enjoy the ambiguity of human imperfections.

Colette feels like a celebration of the turn of the century modernist French liberation Colette became associated with, at least as seen through our 21st century eyes. Westmoreland makes it fun and playful with just a hint of tragedy and loss. His cast is all up for the task and he films his lush sets and delightfully costumed subjects lovingly. It all comes together in quite a nice enjoyable package that makes you want to read delicious literature and experiment. Exactly what the real writer Colette would likely have appreciated.

Colette
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough
Director: Walsh Westmoreland
Writers: Richard Glatzer, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Walsh Westmoreland