Colette, by Richard Glatzer - 8 out of 10

Colette, by Richard Glatzer
8 out of 10


It seems - nay, it looks more like a certainty- that women writers have often written masterpieces, but they were forced by macho men, the mentality- stupidity- of societies to renege on their rights and allow others to sign the works for them.

A recent film deals with this - The Wife - and Glenn Close is nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance, although I would say that Keira Knightley, as Colette, is much better than the older star.
And that despite the fact that Ms. Knightley is not one of my favorite artists.
Gabrielle Sedonie Colette is married to Willy aka the very good Dominic West.

For a a long time, she writes successful books, that sell very well, without being acknowledged.
Indeed, her spouse takes all the credit and apparently wastes the money.

Furthermore, Willy even interferes in her creative elan and tries to influence and make his wife write in the manner he would prefer, or thinks the public would enjoy.
In other matters, he is more libertine.

When they meet a young, attractive woman, Georgie Raoul- Duval, married with a much older, but formidably wealthy man, he says that the invitation this character has made is for the wife and not for him.
Indeed, Georgie would have an affair with Colette.

And with her husband!

Gradually, the heroine becomes frustrated by the ignoble status of a brilliant writer that has to see all the acclaim go to a rather ungrateful, excessive husband.
She would eventually leave him and live with another woman that loves her, but alas, for this viewer, that personage has as much charm as Donald Trump say.

Georgie would have been a much better choice...but then obviously that is not how it works.
When Colette climbs on stage to perform, with her female lover, and they kiss passionately in a scene, the public is outraged and starts throwing things at the actresses.

Eventually, the great writer would be recognized and she now has not just one, but three works on the 

1,000 Novels Everyone Must Read List

Colette is not just a very good, but also an instructive, educational film that should open the eyes of the men who still think like Willy.