Towards the end of her years, France’s most celebrated female novelist looked back with rueful humor. “What a wonderful life I’ve had,” Colette wryly observed. “I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
A similar sentiment might reflect this tasteful tribute to a true rebel: director Wash Westmoreland (“Still Alice”) has an extraordinarily unique subject, but doesn’t seem to realize it until very late in the game.
“Colette” is aesthetically refined, topically relevant, and features a spirited Keira Knightley in the lead. In other words, as a traditional period biopic, it checks all the boxes in fine fashion. But you’d never know it was inspired by a woman whose life was expansive and contradictory and unwieldy in the extreme.
Westmoreland and his cowriters, Richard Glatzer (Westmoreland’s late husband and collaborator) and Rebecca Lenkiewicz (“Disobedience”), chose to focus entirely on Colette’s early adulthood, when she was married to Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West). The much-older Willy, as he was widely known, was famous as a Parisian writer and libertine. But as the film takes pains to point out, he was a bit of a sham on both counts. He put his name to works others wrote, and encouraged his young wife’s sexual exploration primarily to the extent that it mirrored his.
The two were together for about 14 years, and there is no doubt this was a crucially formative time for Colette. It was Willy who encouraged her to write (or, more accurately, bullied her into it). Her first success was a series of semi-autobiographical Claudine novels, which she wrote, he took credit for, and they both used to raise their profiles.
In the movie, this is also the period in which Colette shifts from an innocent housewife to an independent artist. The plotting is so conventional that we can see the marketing plan: Colette’s makeover allows for lots of great costume changes, some satisfyingly feisty monologues from Knightley, and a movie that makes the most of the #TimesUp moment.
Westmoreland deftly plays up the Belle Époque setting, which takes the sting out of the fact that he’s chosen very British actors to tell a very French story. Indeed, he’s gathered an almost uniformly strong cast, which goes a long way towards balancing the movie’s limitations.
Fiona Shaw has some nice moments as Colette’s formidable mother, and Denise Gough (“Juliet, Naked”) is especially striking as Missy, the lesbian aristocrat with whom Colette had a daringly public affair. (An odd contrast is “Poldark”‘s Eleanor Tomlinson, whose florid Southern accent and campy mannerisms as another of Colette’s lovers belong in a different movie altogether.)
Although West is the designated villain, he turns Willy into an unpredictable foil: the confident charm that attracts Colette so strongly is also the arrogant narcissism that pushes her towards a more fulfilling life.
And what of that life? Only one scene, in which Colette performs a strange and dangerously erotic theater piece, gets at the heart of her innately subversive nature. Even her relationship with Missy — which was, in reality, incredibly risky and complex — is represented primarily by walks through pretty fields. And while Willy talks of Colette’s “volcanic jealousies” and “capricious” moods, we never actually see them. Though Knightley’s charming performance is perfectly suited to this restrained approach, she rarely has the chance to connect authentically with her self-mythologizing, larger-than-life inspiration.
Westmoreland’s primary aim is to present an appealing historical heroine who will resonate today. He accomplishes this goal handily, but then keeps returning to it. Did we need so many moments in which the patriarchal Willy and the independent Colette clash? Couldn’t some have been cut, so we could also witness at least a few of her ensuing triumphs and failures?
Because we spend so much time on her first marriage, we never get to the Colette who became one of the first female war reporters, or wrote a bestselling novel referencing her own affair with her second husband’s teenage stepson, or rescued her Jewish third husband after he was arrested by the Gestapo, or influenced so many of the great minds of her time, or lived long enough to be embraced, shamed, shunned, and celebrated by the same society.
“Colette” does offer us an engaging introduction to a fascinating woman. But it’s hard not to wonder: Why tell the story of an avant-garde, ambisexual iconoclast if you’re planning to play it so safe?
97 Sundance Portraits From TheWrap at Acura Studios With Keira Knightley, Robert Pattinson and More (Photos)
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Chloë Sevigny, "Lizzie"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Lizzie" writer Bryce Kass, actor Denis O'Hare, director Craig William Macneill and actress Chloë Sevigny
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Believer" director Don Argott with subjects Tyler Glenn and Dan Reynolds
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"What They Had" stars Taissa Farmiga, Michael Shannon, writer-director Elizabeth Chomko, Blythe Danner and Hilary Swank
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Michael Shannon, "What They Had"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Meg McGarry, Flynn McGarry, Cameron Yates and Laura Coxson, "Chef Flynn"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Flynn McGarry, "Chef Flynn"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Jesse Peretz, "Juliet, Naked"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Chris-O'Dowd, "Juliet, Naked"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Eugene Jarecki, "The King"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"An Evening With Beverly Luff Lin" director Jim Hosking with stars Aubrey Plaza, Matt Berry, Craig Robinson, and Jemaine Clement
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Private Life" stars Kayli Carter and Kathryn Hahn with writer-director Tamara Jenkins
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kayli Carter, "Private Life"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Private Life" producer, Ali Abouomar
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Eighth Grade" writer-director Bo Burnham and star Elsie Fisher
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kiersey Clemons, "Hearts Beat Loud"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Arizona" director Jonathan Watson with stars Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Gillies, Danny McBride, Lolli Sorenson, Kaitlin Olsen and Rosemarie Dewitt
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Elizabeth Gillies, "Arizona"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"Dead Pigs" director Cathy Yan with stars Li Meng, Zazie Beetz and David Rhysdahl
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Cathy Yan, "Dead Pigs"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Zazie Beetz, "Dead Pigs"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-actor Rafael Casal, director Carlos López Estrada, writer-actor Daveed Diggs, actors Janina Gavankar, Justin Chu Cory and Jasmine Cephas Jones, "Blindspotting"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Jason Ritter, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Common, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Isabella Amara, "The Tale"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-director-star Carlson Young, "The Blazing World"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Robert Pattinson, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Mia Wasikowska, "Damsel"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Silas Howard, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Jim Parsons, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Priyanka Chopra, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Claire Danes, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Octavia Spencer, "A Kid Like Jake"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actors Jeffrey Wright, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and director Anthony Mandler, "Monster"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Dominic West and Kiera Knightly, "Colette"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Kiera Knightly, "Colette"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor John Cho, "Search"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
"The Kindergarten Teacher" director, Sara Colangelo and actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Kindergarten Teacher" actress, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Kindergarten Teacher" actress, Anna Baryshnikov
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Musician Aloe Blacc, "America's Musical Journey"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Jessica Sanders, "End of the Line"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Forest Whitaker, "Burden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Garrett Hedlund, "Burden"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Talal Derki, "Of Fathers and Sons"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director, Boots Riley, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Lakeith Stanfield, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Armie Hammer, "Sorry to Bother You"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Jason Segel, "Come Sunday"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Condola Rashad, "Come Sunday"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Stephen Maing, "Crime and Punishment"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
The young women of the "Skate Kitchen" skate collective, with director Crystal Moselle and co-star Jaden Smith, "Skate Kitchen"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Jaden Smith, "Skate Kitchen"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Charlie Sexton, director Ethan Hawke, actress Alia Shawkat, actor Josh Hamilton, and acorr Ben Dickey, "Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Ethan Hawke, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Alia Shawkat, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Ben Dickey, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Charlie Sexton, “Blaze"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"The Devil You Know" director Stephanie Soechtig and her four subjects
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Director Stephanie Soechtig, "The Devil You Know"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Hari Nef, writer-director Sam Levinson and actors Colman Domingo and Bill Skårsgard, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Bill Skårsgard, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Writer-director Sam Levinson, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actor Coleman Damingo, "Assassination Nation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Actress Helena Howard, "Madeline's Madeline"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Chris McGurk, CEO of Cinedigm
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director David Wain, actors Domhnall Gleeson, Tom Lennon, and Emmy Rossum, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Emmy Rossum, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Domhnall Gleeson, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Brad Anderson, "Beirut"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Raul Castillo, Jeremiah Zagar, Sheila Vand, and Justin Torres, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios
Author Justin Torres, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Sheila Vand, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Raul Castillo, "We the Animals"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actors Maia Mitchell and Cami Marrone with writer-director Augustine Frizzell, “Never Goin’ Back”
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Cami Morrone, “Never Goin’ Back”
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Augustine Frizzell, "Never Goin' Back"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Maia Mitchell, "Never Goin' Back"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director Jack Henry Robbins and producer Tim Robbins, "Painting With Joan"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Co-writer and star Franchesca Ramsey, "Franchesca"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Producer Trey Ellis, "King in the Wilderness"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actors Valter Skarsgard, Lucian Charles Collier, Sky Ferreira, Jack Kilmer, director Jonas Akerlund, Wilson Gonzalez, and Rory Culkin, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Valter Skarsgard, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Rory Culkin, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
"Lords of Chaos" star Wilson Gonzalez
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director and co-writer Jonas Akerlund, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Jack Kilmer, "Lords of Chaos"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Joan Jett, "Bad Reputation"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Director and co-writer Daryl Wein, "White Rabbit"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Graham Verchere, actor Rich Sommer, co-directors Francois Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, writers Matt Leslie and Stephen J. Smith, actress Tiera Skovbye, and actor Caleb Emery, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Caleb Emery, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actress Tiera Skovbye, "Summer of '84"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Luis Gerardo Mendez, "Time Share"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Actor Matthew Lillard, "Halfway There"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
Sarah Shahi, "Halfway There"
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studio
1 of 97
Sundance 2018: Hilary Swank, Forest Whitaker and Armie Hammer among the stars shot by photographer Irvin Rivera in Park City
Photographed by Irvin Rivera for TheWrap at the Acura Studios