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MOVIE TITLE: Colette
RATING: PG-13 on Rotten Tomatoes, BUT rated R on IMDB
LENGTH: 111 minutes
Movie Review Mom GRADE: B-
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
- This really should be a rated R movie, in my opinion. Sex, infidelity, 2 topless women, and lesbian relationships are a huge part of the story and portrayal. The movie is rated PG-13 on Rotten Tomatoes, but rated R on IMDB.com
- Some profanity.
IN A NUTSHELL: Based on the true story of French writer Gabrielle Colette
The story reminded me a lot of Big Eyes
THEMES:
- Gender equality, double standards
- Persistence
- Independence
- “No one can take away who you are.” – Sido (Fiona Shaw)
- Marriage, infidelity, forgiveness, betrayal
THINGS I LIKED:
- Keira Knightley is really great.
- Dominic West is also very good, although I hated his character…or the lack thereof…
- The musical score by Thomas Ades is rich, although sometimes a bit melodramatic.
- Filmed in Budapest, although the movie takes place in France. Both European cities are gorgeous.
- As a female author, I’m always fascinated by stories about other writers. While I’ve published a lot of non-fiction books, I’ve never written fiction. I admire that talent tremendously, to create worlds and characters that don’t exist. I thought Willy’s comment was enlightening when he said about readers, “All people really want is a feeling, an emotion, the very sweep of narrative.”
- Some beautiful costumes and set pieces.
- You get to see pictures of the real Colette at the end of the movie. I always love learning about real people who lived fascinating lives.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
- Willy is a disgusting character. He belches beefy burps, farts in front of his wife, and oh yeah…the tiny matter of infidelity, dishonesty, and control over Colette’s life and work. It makes me angry and sad to think that women have been economically trapped so they felt they had to stay with monsters like that for many, many centuries. I know it still happens even today. I appreciate movies that give women the courage to imagine a different life where they can make their own decisions and live the life they want to without a man ruling over them.
- Some will think this movie is brave and enlightened, while others will criticize the focus on the depravity and scandal of turn-of-the-century France.
- It was interesting to see how they had adorned a turtle during a fancy party. Colette says to him, “You poor thing. You want the earth and the grass, don’t you?” I used to have pet turtles, so it made me sad to see how the host of the party treated the poor thing.
- Scenes jump around in time.
- I don’t have to SEE sex scenes to know it’s happening. In a PG-13 movie that parents feel should be safe enough to watch with their families, our kids should not have to be exposed to some of the things that are shown in this movie. Come on directors and studios…where is your common sense?
FUNNY LINES:
* “Intimacy in all its savage abandon.” – Willy after Colette scolds him for farting in front of her
- “You mean more to me than all the women of Paris put together.” – Willy (Dominic West)
“Have you slept with them all?” – Colette (Keira Knightley)
- “Women, knives…all very Greek.” – Willy as he watches Colette and her mother cutting vegetables in the kitchen
INTERESTING LINES:
- “You’re married? The wild days are over.” – party-goer
“On the contrary, the wild days have just begun.” – Colette
- “It’s what men do. We’re the weaker sex.” – Willy when he confesses to infidelity to Colette.
- “I just have to get used to marriage.” – Colette
“Better to make marriage get used to you.” – Sido
- “It’s the hand that holds the pen that writes history.” – Willy
- “Spirit should always be rewarded.” – Colette
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