Chéri (2009)

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Christopher Hampton (written by)
Colette (novels)

Release Date:

8 April 2009 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In a game of seduction, never fall in love.

Plot:

The son of a courtesan retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his relationship with the older woman who educated him in the ways of love.

Plot Keywords:

Courtesan | Love | 19th Century | Opening Narration | Tuxedo

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Lea de Lonval
Frances Tomelty	...	Rose
Tom Burke	...	Vicomte Desmond
Rupert Friend	...	Cheri
Hubert Tellegen	...	Ernest
Joe Sheridan	...	Marcel
Kathy Bates	...	Madame Peloux
Toby Kebbell	...	Patron
Felicity Jones	...	Edmee
Iben Hjejle	...	Marie Laure
Alain Churin	...	Priest
Bette Bourne	...	Baronne
Nichola McAuliffe	...	Madame Aldonza
Andras Hamori	...	Otto
Gaye Brown	...	Lili

Also Known As:

Chéri - Eine Komödie der Eitelkeiten (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content and brief drug use.

Runtime:

USA:86 min | Germany:100 min (Berlin International Film Festival) | USA:92 min

Country:

UK | France | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45123) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | UK:15 | France:U | Finland:K-11 | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France

Company:

Bill Kenwright Films

Trivia:

When the project was in development during the 1990s, Jessica Lange planned to star as Léa de Lonval.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the closing credits, 'thanks' are given to France's national railway, the Societe National Chemin de Fer, known as the "SNCF". However the credits have the letters out of sequence, calling it the "SCNF".

Quotes:

Lea de Lonval: I'm probably making a fool of myself... but then again, why not? Life is short!

Movie Connections:

Version of Cheri (1974)

Withering realism masked by sparkling wit

I think this commentary does not do justice to the complexity of the tale.

Cheri's courtesan mother was loving and cheerful? She was no more fit to be a mother than my arm is for the wing of an airplane. Cheri was orphaned from the beginning because of his mother's profession as well as the usual self-preoccupation of such great beauties. When she saw fit, she arranged a loveless and mercenary marriage for him. The withering realism of this tale about the egotism and cruelty in almost all human relationships is only masked and made palatable by the sparkling wit it is mixed with.

The movie is by no means perfect, but there is a lot to explore. I would not write off Colette and Pfeiffer without attending with a bit more care.