Colette (2018)
81%RT Audience Score: 69%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 11 nominations
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
Colette is a must-see movie for anyone who loves a good period drama with a feminist twist. Keira Knightley shines as the titular character, bringing to life the story of a woman who defied societal norms and revolutionized the world of literature. The film’s lush settings and stunning costumes transport you to turn-of-the-century France, while the strong performances from the entire cast keep you engaged from start to finish. Plus, who doesn’t love a good same-sex affair tastefully portrayed on screen? Overall, Colette is a triumph and a reminder that women have been breaking barriers and changing the world for centuries.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios,
Distributor
30West, Bleecker Street Media
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Budapest, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexuality/nudity
Year of Release
2019
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 51m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2018 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2018
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Denise Gough, Fiona Shaw, Eleanor Tomlinson, Robert Pugh, directed by Wash Westmoreland, written by Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, biography, English, Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters, box office, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, Andrea Gronvall, Cathy Brennan, Ryan Gilbey, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Kevin Maher, MPAA rating R, Paris, France, early 20th century, feminist, writer, author, ghostwrite, semi-autobiographical novel, societal constraints, creative ownership, bisexual, transgender, gender norms, sexual liberation, female empowerment, period drama, costumes, production design, historical detail, vivid interiors, long takes, star vehicle, historical facts, obstacles, brilliant woman writer
Worldwide gross: $14,273,033
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,491,841
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,785
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,798,456
US/Canada gross: $5,137,622
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,936,289
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,757
US/Canada opening weekend: $161,179
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $186,235
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,689
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Dominic West – Willy
Denise Gough – Missy
Fiona Shaw – Sido
Eleanor Tomlinson – Georgie Raoul-Duval
Robert Pugh – Jules
Director – Wash Westmoreland
Producers – Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters
Writers – Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Director(s)
Wash Westmoreland
Writer(s)
Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Producer(s)
Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters
Film Festivals
Sundance, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (229) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (200) | Rotten (29)
The beautifully lush late 19th century settings show off the remarkable modernity of the writer, actress, dancer, and iconoclast Collette.
October 12, 2021
Nell Minow
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s treatment of her same-sex affairs may be as tasteful as the set design, but the film is an absorbing introduction to a trailblazing artist.
March 3, 2020
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Keira Knightley is magnetic in a Paris-set period drama with a dollop of queer feminist energy.
September 20, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Cathy Brennan
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
[Keira Knightley] gets far more to do and is infinitely better at it than usual in the brisk new period piece Colette
January 26, 2019
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
In the wrong films Knightley is a pretty girl with a small bag of tricks. In the right ones she’s formidable. Crucially here, she also cuts it as a wordsmith.
January 13, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Knightley’s Colette is fine too. But nothing more. The role required a maelstrom of tortured angst and rousing defiance to support the weight of the film. It never arrived.
January 11, 2019 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
All in all, it’s a satisfying cinematic experience. Is a little less Willy and a bit more Missy too much to ask?
May 20, 2022
Merryn Johns
Curve
Keira Knightley may not be French, but she is wonderful as the legendary French author Colette.
October 12, 2021
Sandie Angulo Chen
AWFJ Women on Film
Colette is a splendid biopic about the sublimely controversial feminist writer…costumes, sets and cinematography are gorgeous.
October 12, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
What an absolutely terrific movie about an amazing woman who defied gender norms, revolutionized fashion, gave young women a voice unlike any they’d ever had before.
October 12, 2021
MaryAnn Johanson
AWFJ Women on Film
Keira Knightley gives a phenomenal, career-best performance as the eponymous protagonist of Wash Westmoreland’s lavish biopic.
October 12, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
The film’s rich, turn-of-the-20th century French sets, design, and costumes bolster the strong lead performances…
October 12, 2021
Betsy Bozdech
AWFJ Women on Film…
Plot
After marrying successful Parisian writer Henry Gauthier-Villars, known commonly as “Willy” (Dominic West), Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley) is transplanted from her childhood home in rural France to the intellectual and artistic splendor of Paris. Soon after, Willy convinces Colette to ghostwrite for him. Colette, in turn, 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 and gender roles drives her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The review praises Keira Knightley’s performance as “magnetic” and a “brilliant match for its lead.”
Wash-Westmoreland.jpg
