Film Review: Colette Shows Why Confidence Is Power
Synopsis: 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, 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 defies gender roles and drives her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression. Directed by Wash Westmoreland and written by Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer, Rebecca Lenkiewicz.
In these Kavanaugh times, Director Wash Westmoreland’s Colette feels like a needed film to display how much sexism sucks. Yes, I know that sounds plain, but Kiera Knightley is a tour de force as a woman consistently told, scolded, and robbed by men for her creative talent. In this world, even now, shame and corruption are believed to be proper motivators in molding a good woman/ wife, and Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette was one of the first/ few international icons to say NAY!
When we meet Colette she is beginning her whirlwind affair with Willy, and Dominic West makes him the most disgusting charm. He is the quintessential 50 year old “Peter Pan- Man;” not realizing his age, his purpose, and he responsibilities as a husband but, somehow, always painting himself a victim. Unfortunately / fortunately, for Colette, Willy is her introduction into high society and its businesses. I say unfortunately because Willy cheats, diminishes, and plots against his own wife. Every time he feels bad about himself, he puts Colette in literal positions for heartbreak. Still, I say fortunately because, in literally being married to the worst, Colette is forced to grow, protect, and, eventually, display her greatness for herself.
Often, we do not like to say that someone’s darkness taught us our light, especially in the cases of women and men. It can feel degrading to say that we learned anything from a relationship where we were literally degraded. Yet, I truly believe that if you survive great suffering then you learn to lead your life with great strength, and, for Colette, Willy is her greatest suffering. As Keira Knightly plays Colette from her teen years into her womanhood, you see this young girl’s skin thicken, the fires of her inner passion heighten, and the flowery talents of her writing blossom. Through Willy’s threats, she learns she has something worth fighting for, and, in this world, a positive can truly come from a negative. Knightley transforms Colette not just into a great woman who is not going to take BS from lesser, but also one that does not have to.
Confidence is power, and when you discover and cherish your talent, your confidence becomes its protector. This is a huge moral lesson throughout Colette that is so empowering, especially to women whom are taught to be submissive, more bashful, and always less shiny than their man. Sitting in a crowd, it was intriguing to see women openly laugh at Willy and 19th century, Parisian society’s open misogyny. It is clear that prejudice is stupid, but it is scary to see how it lasts. Even now, women are facing the same discrimination and discrepancies as Colette, but the difference lies in that not every woman has her personal perseverance or even her access.
Money really dos move the world, even if it does not progress it. As Colette becomes a traveling actress, begins a public affair with lesbian lover Missy, and fights Willy as the true author of the Claudine series, you admire her resilience but you also see the importance of wealth and fame. Between her genuine faith and ferocity for herself and the riches she acquires through her work and her relationship with Missy, whom is so rich she can live in 19th century France dressing as a man with little harassment, Colette proves that money and a genuinely good moral code are the keys to living your best life. Based on a true story, despite all her sufferings, Colette lived a life that felt more blessed, bright, and advanced then women can be allowed, even today, to have. Thus, it makes sense that, through emotional honesty, Colette has become a universal voice for women that dream beyond their Montigny towns. Colette Comes Out In Theaters On September 21.
