- Source: Becoming Colette
Becoming Colette is a 1991 German-British-French biographical drama film written by Ruth Graham, directed by Danny Huston and starring Klaus Maria Brandauer and Mathilda May as Henry Gauthier-Villars and Colette respectively. It was originally entitled Colette.
Plot
During one of her avant-garde theater performances, Colette notices that her ex-husband Willy, Gauthier-Villars, is in the audience, prompting her to reminisce about her development from ingenue in rural Burgundy to novelist in Paris. It follows Colette's life in her twenties and thirties, her marriage to libertine Willy, her relationship with, the younger, yet well-experienced actress Polaire, and the publication of her first novels under Willy's name.
Cast
Klaus Maria Brandauer as Henry Gauthier-Villars
Mathilda May as Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette
Virginia Madsen as Polaire
Paul Rhys as Chapo
John van Dreelen as Albert
Jean-Pierre Aumont as Captain
Lucienne Hamon as Sido
Georg Tryphon as Creditor
Production
The shooting was marked by the violence of Klaus Maria Brandauer towards Mathilda May, without intervention of the film crew to protect her.
Release
The film was released in New York City on November 6, 1992.
Reception
Joe Leydon of Variety gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Not even a twinkly eyed, scene-stealing turn by Klaus Maria Brandauer is enough to enliven Danny Huston's Becoming Colette ..."
Peter Rainer of the Los Angeles Times also gave the film a negative review and wrote, "The film, which was directed by Danny Huston and scripted by Ruth Graham, has an airless, disembodied quality—not exactly what one wants from a movie about a sensualist of genius."
Rita Kempley of The Washington Post also gave the film a negative review, describing it as "negligible".
References
External links
Becoming Colette at IMDb
Becoming Colette at Rotten Tomatoes