In a Napoleonic era insane asylum, an inmate, the irrepressible Marquis De Sade, fights a battle of wills against a tyrannically prudish doctor.
Director:
Philip Kaufman
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Title: Quills (2000)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Geoffrey Rush | ... | ||
| Kate Winslet | ... | ||
| Joaquin Phoenix | ... | ||
| Michael Caine | ... |
Royer-Collard
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| Billie Whitelaw | ... |
Madame LeClerc
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| Patrick Malahide | ... |
Delbené
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| Amelia Warner | ... |
Simone
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Jane Menelaus | ... |
Renee Pelagie
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| Stephen Moyer | ... |
Prouix
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Tony Pritchard | ... |
Valcour
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| Michael Jenn | ... |
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Danny Babington | ... |
Pitou
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George Antoni | ... |
Dauphin
(as George Yiasoumi)
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| Stephen Marcus | ... |
Bouchon
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| Elizabeth Berrington | ... |
Charlotte
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
The infamous writer, the Marquis de Sade of 18th Century France, is imprisoned at Charenton Insane Asylum for unmentionable activities. He manages to befriend the young Abbé de Coulmier, who runs the asylum, along with a beautiful laundress named Madeline. Things go terribly wrong when the Abbe finds out that the Marquis' books are being secretly published. The emperor Napoleon contemplates sending Dr. Royer-Collard to oversee the asylum, a man famed for his torturous punishments. It could mean the end of Charenton and possibly the Marquis himself. Written by Emily H and Janette W
Taglines:
Meet the Marquis de Sade. The pleasure is all his. See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, violence and language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Release Date:
25 December 2000 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Quills, la plume et le sang See more »Box Office
Budget:
$13,500,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$249,383 (USA) (24 November 2000)Gross:
$7,060,876 (USA) (27 April 2001)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Paul Verhoeven was considered to direct this movie. That makes this the second movie to be passed on by Verhoeven and subsequently directed by Philip Kaufman; the first was The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988). See more »Goofs
When Madeleine is putting on her dress after getting her wounds clean, she slips her arm into the sleeve twice. See more »Quotes
Marquis de Sade: Are your convictions so fragile they cannot stand in opposition to mine? Is your god so flimsey, so weak! For shame.See more »
Quills is one of the best films of 2000, in my reckoning, second best only to You Can Count on Me. It is one of the most brilliantly directed, acted, produced, and written films I've seen in a very long time. There is not a (major) character in this film that is not very complex, and the issues at stake are utterly important.
Perhaps the greatest success of the film is how well it works on commenting both on its own time and situations and our own world today. The issues of free speech, creativity, dementia, corporal punishment, religion, sexuality and especially politics are woven into the film in amazing ways. Yes, politics, for it works as an allegory to the recent presidential scandals.
There are two flaws, one major, one semi-major. The semi-major one involves the epilogue. It is not bad, but it is unnecessary. Perhaps the best way to describe it is superfluous and predictable. The major flaw would destroy any lesser film. Here, it is hardly noticable. Still, if one contemplates it, there is no getting around it. There is never a believable reason why Madeleine should be so helpful to the Marquis de Sade. They present a tiny one, but it is not good enough.
Still, with its successes elsewhere, these flaws do not weaken this film. Without them, it would have been perfect. With them, well, just because it is flawed, doesn't mean it isn't a masterpiece. 10/10