MOVIE OF THE WEEK July 19, 2024: WIDOW CLICQUOT
If movies like Big Night and The Taste of Things leave you craving a fabulous meal, then Widow Clicquot is likely to send you scrambling for the nearest bottle of bubbly. Director Thomas Napper’s carefully observed historical biopic — which boasts a powerful performance by star Haley Bennett — tells the engrossing, wine-drenched tale of the birth of France’s world-famous Champagne label Veuve Clicquot in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Starting from the moment of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot’s (Bennett) tragic early widowhood at age 27 and unspooling both forward — as she fights to maintain control over her beloved husband Francois’ (Tom Sturridge) beloved vineyards — and backward, as she and Francois marry and build a life together, only to have it derailed by his mental illness and opium abuse, Widow Clicquot tells the story of a strong woman driven by both duty and passion.
Determined to fulfill Francois’ dreams, as well as to pursue her own burgeoning interest in winemaking, Barbe-Nicole works tirelessly to craft a new variety of Champagne, risking everything Francois left behind to do so. She partners with resourceful wine distributor/salesman Louis Bohne (Sam Reilly) to get around restrictions related to the Napoleonic Wars and stands up to her skeptical father-in-law, Philippe (Ben Miles), when he doubts her ability to turn the vineyard into a successful business. And all the while she remembers the joyful highs and despairing lows of her time with Francois, whose love for her and the vines couldn’t prevent him from falling victim to his own inner demons.
Bennett is both fragile and incredibly strong as Barbe-Nicole, who must defy all convention to achieve her goals. Erin Dignam’s screenplay gives her plenty of moments to demonstrate her talent, and Napper directs her thoughtfully and with gentle care. In the end, you’ll likely want to raise a toast to those who brought this tale of a grande dame of history to life. — Betsy Bozdech
Team #MOTW’s comments:
Pam Grady: Left with a young daughter to raise when her husband Francois (Tom Sturridge) dies suddenly, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot (Haley Bennett) wastes no time in establishing herself as the boss of the vineyard. Despite facing relentless misogyny, mutinous staff, Napoleonic decrees that work against selling her product, war, and natural disaster, Veuve Clicquot does not merely survive, she thrives as she pioneers revolutionary methods for producing champagne. There is plenty of romance as the widow reminisces about life with her spouse and engages in a new relationship with wine merchant Louis Bohne (Sam Riley) but this biographical drama’s main focus is on Barbe-Nicole’s perseverance despite disasters that plague her household and her business and her refusal to bow down to the pressure exerted by the powerful men around her. Bennett, who also produced the film, is simply superb as a woman who changes the wine world with her inventive mind and her insistence that she is not only the equal to any man but when it comes to producing champagne, she is their superior.
Loren King There will be no shortage of glass-raising cliches to describe Widow Clicquot since it’s a delicious surprise and something to celebrate. Even champagne enthusiasts may not know that popular brand Veuve Clicquot had this kind of fascinating backstory. Director Thomas Napper’s film is based on the true story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Haley Bennett) and set in France during the Napoleonic Wars. Beautifully photographed in both stark, candlelit interiors and sumptuous sun-drenched vineyards, the story shifts back and forth in time starting with the death of young winemaking scion François (Tom Sturridge), leaving a young daughter and making her mother, Barbe-Nicole, a widow at 27. Read full review.
Nell Minow: Haley Bennett gives a luminous performance as Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, a woman of dedication, courage, intelligence, and ingenuity at a time when those qualities were considered to be the exclusive province of men. We see her deep love of the husband who died when she was just 27, her compassion in supporting him through his struggles with mental illness, and her resolve that while she would stand by him, their daughter would have to be sent away to keep herself and her respect for her father safe. We see her strength as the men around her try to take away the vineyard and the wine business she loves, disparaging her ability and the way she makes her workers her partners. Cinematographer Caroline Champetier skillfully brings us into the world of the late 18th century, with the contrast between the dark wood and candlelight of the interiors and the sun-dappled natural world outdoors. The Widow Clicquot has a quiet strength. She does not need to raise her voice to make her “no” as powerful as a cannon.
Leslie Combemale Widow Clicquot is such a moving and aspirational story…think of a woman, at a time when women were even less able to command attention and respect, who literally changed the course of the history of champagne in France. In a story based in fact, Haley Bennett shines brighter than ever as the titular lead. More than once I’ve heard folks call Bennett’s portrayals slight, and yet here again is an example of her subtle yet robust embodiment of character. Beyond the gorgeous production design and cinematography, Bennett’s performance is reason to tune in to this fascinating story.
Jennifer Merin Widow Clicquot is a stirring truth-based drama about the strong and determined woman who defied the French vintner patriarchy and survived numerous near calamities to create and sustain one of the world’s finest champagne brands: Veuve Clicquot. They said she couldn’t do it. She proved them wrong…and we are so grateful for that for so many reasons. Cheers to fine champagne, a super femme-centric historical drama, Haley Bennett’s convincing performance as the strong and complex titular character, exquisite period costumes and sets, and the glorious French countryside.
Nikki Fowler: What’s better than drinking a glass of my favorite champagne? Learning the true story of the brilliant woman the “Grande Dame of Champagne,” who kept a vineyard legacy in tact, under duress and loss while she was still in her twenties. Thomas Napper‘s Widow Clicquot starring Haley Bennett (as Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin) is an extraordinary period drama that tells the story of how the wife of the Clicquot founder François Clicquot, upon his death, challenges the patriarchy to lead her late husband’s estate to fortune. Despite the calls for her to sell the vineyard, Barbe-Nicole reminisces about her romance with her late husband as we see in flashbacks of their eccentric love affair, which in turn fuels her passion to guide the vineyard to financial success based on his incredible standards which included singing to the vines as well as implementing her very own new techniques. Widow Clicquot is an inspiring whimsical film with great direction and cast, along with a powerful ‘gold label’ lining.
Liz Whittemore Widow Clicquot is an exemplary story about female entrepreneurship against all odds. Haley Bennett owns each frame with vibrancy and passion amongst the lush landscape, set designs, and exquisite period costumes. Now I know that when I toast the many women in my life with a glass of Veuve Clicquot, I will also raise a glass to Barbe-Nicole, which makes the taste all the sweeter. Cheers.
Cate Marquis One of France’s top champagnes is Veuve Clicquot, a name that translates as “widow Clicquot.” Widow Clicquot is an English-language historical drama telling the story of that person, a brilliant, pioneering woman who not only made the Clicquot family’s champagne famous but whose innovations transformed the entire champagne industry itself. And all that in the time of Napoleon, when women had no rights and were forbidden to run a business – unless they were a widow continuing her husband’s business. Gorgeous visuals and a fine British cast complement this inspiring period biopic about one of the first women entrepreneurs in France. Haley Bennett plays Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, who we first meet as a newly widowed 28-year-old with a young daughter, as she fends off pressure to sell the vineyard and winery she and her late husband Francois (Tom Sturridge) built together. With ground-breaking innovative ideas, the widow Clicquot tries to hold on to their dream, aided partly by a resourceful traveling salesman (Sam Riley). The story is full of unexpected twist and turns as the risk-taking widow determinedly improves her wine, scenes that alternate with flashbacks to her life with Francois, adding a romantic, tragic dimension to this tale of one remarkable woman.
FILM DETAILS:
Title: Widow Clicquot
Director: Thomas Napper
Release Date: July 19, 2024 (US limited theatrical)
Running Time: 89 minutes
Language: English
Screenwriters: Erin Dignam, Christopher Monger and Tilar J. Mazzeo
Distribution Company: Vertical Entertainment
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Sandie Angulo Chen, Betsy Bozdech, Leslie Combemale, Nikki Fowler, Pam Grady, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Sherin Nicole, Liz Whittemore
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Edited by Jennifer Merin
