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 splendor 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, that becomes 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. – Peter Biskind
“Takes a light, enjoyably fizzy approach to its subject.” — Manohla Dargis, New York Times
“A witty, spirited portrait of the great French writer and libertine during the early Belle Époque years of her career.” — Justin Chang, L.A. Times
“At first presenting itself as a tightly corseted Big Eyes set during the Belle Époque, Colette erupts into a fun, frothy, and unmistakably feminist biopic.” — David Ehrlich, IndieWire
directed by
Wash Westmoreland
Wash Westmoreland
written by
Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland
with
Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlinson, Dominic West
Keira Knightley, Eleanor Tomlinson, Dominic West
production company
Number 9 Films, Killer Films, Bold Films, BFI Film Fund, Pixoloid Studios (pre-production art services)
Number 9 Films, Killer Films, Bold Films, BFI Film Fund, Pixoloid Studios (pre-production art services)