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Before Matt Damon was The Talented Mr. Ripley, there was Alain Delon #book2movies

Colette: Keira Knightley brings the famous French author to Sundance


The focus here is usually movies based on specific books: novels you’ve loved, gripping bios or nonfiction adventures you can’t wait to see onscreen. But when I hear a movie is being made about a writer’s life, whether it’s based on a specific book or not, I can’t resist taking a closer look.

 Colette, starring Keira Knightley as the famous French novelist, makes its debut January 20th at Sundance. At this point there are no release dates but we’ll see what kind of action the film fest kicks up. The focus of the movie is the writer’s relationship with her husband, a powerful literary and theatrical critic of the day who took credit for much of the writer’s work. 



Dominic West, seen here in Testament of Youth

According to Deadline, Colette’s husband Willy, played by Dominic West “introduces Colette to hedonistic Paris, and with her creative appetite unlocked she begins to write novels; however, Willy only allows her to do so in his name. The phenomenal success of her Claudine novel series makes Willy a famous writer, yet the lack of recognition for her work sparks the breakdown of their marriage.’’ No kidding!

 A timeless story which took place over a century ago but which is all too relevant today. I. Can. Not. Wait!

 The screenplay was written by life partners Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glazer who cowrote and directed Still Alice. Tragically Glazer died in March of 2015, Rebecca Lenkiewicz came in afterwards to do rewrites.
Sidonie Colette (1873-1954)

Westmoreland directs the mostly British cast which also includes Poldark’s Eleanor Tomlinson and Game of Thrones’ Robert Pugh.

 I’m on the lookout for more images from the film and a trailer. Give me a shout out if you spot them first.

 One of our favorite Colette works is the fabulous Gigi

If you want to brush up on your Colette knowledge, you may want to give Judith Thurman’s Secrets of the Flesh, A Life of Colette a gander. I’m betting the screenwriters did.