Enora Maurer

United Kingdom, United States
Director: Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley (Colette), Dominic West (Willy)
Genre: Biography, drama, history
Running time: 111 minutes

I personally loved this movie. It sure was something else from the French productions I’ve been seeing lately. However, it did feel a little strange to be in Paris and see English speaking actors incarnating french characters, especially a legend such as Colette.

But Keira Knightley plays her well and her inner changes until she does fully become Colette are evident in the way she portrays her. I had more difficulty accepting Dominic West’s role as her husband Willy, as I only remember him from The Wire (2002-2008), where he plays an (asshole-ish) American detective. The beard and the belly in his bourgeois-like costume help, though. And in the end the detective’s character and Willy’s are not so far apart, as they share misogynistic views and are self absorbed.

So finally I was completely absorbed by the movie and fully enjoyed it. I think anyone who likes 19th/20th Century movies and Keira Knightley will enjoy it, as well.