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IMDbPro

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

  • 2021
  • PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever. Moving from the late 1800s through to the 1930s, we follow the incredible adventures of this inspiring, unsung hero, as he seeks to unlock the "electrical" mysteries of the world and, in so doing, to better understand his own life and the profound love he shared with his wife Emily Richardson (Claire Foy).
Play trailer2:34
7 Videos
99+ Photos
Period DramaTragedyBiographyDramaHistory

English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.

  • Director
    • Will Sharpe
  • Writers
    • Simon Stephenson
    • Will Sharpe
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Claire Foy
    • Andrea Riseborough
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson
      • Will Sharpe
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Claire Foy
      • Andrea Riseborough
    • 193User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos7

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    First Look Clip
    Clip 1:55
    First Look Clip
    First Look Clip
    Clip 1:55
    First Look Clip
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Prism
    Clip 1:41
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Prism
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Mr. Cat Man
    Clip 1:00
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Mr. Cat Man
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting (UK)
    Clip 1:55
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting (UK)
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting
    Clip 1:55
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting

    Photos104

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    Top cast55

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Louis Wain
    Claire Foy
    Claire Foy
    • Emily Richardson-Wain
    Andrea Riseborough
    Andrea Riseborough
    • Caroline Wain
    Toby Jones
    Toby Jones
    • Sir William Ingram
    Sharon Rooney
    Sharon Rooney
    • Josephine Wain
    Aimee Lou Wood
    Aimee Lou Wood
    • Claire Wain
    Hayley Squires
    Hayley Squires
    • Marie Wain
    Stacy Martin
    Stacy Martin
    • Felicie Wain
    Phoebe Nicholls
    Phoebe Nicholls
    • Mrs. Wain
    Adeel Akhtar
    Adeel Akhtar
    • Dan Rider
    Asim Chaudhry
    Asim Chaudhry
    • Herbert Railton
    Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi
    • Max Kase
    Crystal Clarke
    Crystal Clarke
    • Alicia Simmonds
    Daniel Rigby
    Daniel Rigby
    • Bendigo
    Richard Ayoade
    Richard Ayoade
    • Henry Wood
    Julian Barratt
    Julian Barratt
    • Dr. Elphick
    Dorothy Atkinson
    Dorothy Atkinson
    • Mrs. DuFrayne
    Nick Cave
    Nick Cave
    • H.G. Wells
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson
      • Will Sharpe
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews193

    6.822.3K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' is a visually stunning biopic exploring themes of mental health and creativity. Benedict Cumberbatch's performance is praised for its depth. The film's imaginative visual style is appreciated, yet its inconsistent tone and pacing receive mixed feedback. Critics debate the portrayal of Wain's mental health and artistic decline, with some finding it nuanced and others lacking depth. Overall, the film is seen as emotionally evocative, though its execution and thematic focus spark debate.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    TxMike

    Biographical movie, Cumberbatch really shines.

    Louis (loo-eee) Wain was a British artist who lived 1860 to 1939, dying a month before he would have turned 79. He also fashioned himself as a composer and an inventor although those never came to fruition. He had theories about electricity but nothing practical like Tesla.

    However he made his reputation with cats, especially drawing cats in all kinds of real and fantasy situations. That is his lasting legacy. Within his family, himself and his five female siblings, were some types of mental illness. All this is prominent in this movie.

    Before watching it I knew nothing of Louis Wain and now find him to be a fascinating person. I already knew Benedict Cumberbatch to be one of the better working actors currently and he certainly hits a home run as the colorful and eccentric Wain.

    My wife and I watched it at home on Amazon streaming.
    7Xstal

    A Kaleidoscopic Catatonic Eccentricity...

    The man who catapulted cats into the mainstream, cataloguing his cataclysmic catastrophes while categorically catering as a catnip for cat lovers, the cateracting from the cateractors will make you caterwaul and purr - that is unless you're a dog or a bird or hypoallergenic to fur.
    7rmmil

    Louis was a kind heart in a cruel world

    I have to give this film credit as it does get many things "right" about Mr. Wain's life, which is rare in modern "true" films, but not everything, and maybe not the "most" important part of the film.

    Wain wasn't "crazy", today many experts agree he was likely autistic in a world that didn't "understand" autism. Look it up, please.

    He was thought to be psychotic late in life, but his creativity didn't diminish in those later years, it flourished. Historically speaking, psychiatric patients who are diagnosed with serious mental illness generally "lose" their artistic talents. Wain never did.

    What "is" true from the film is that Wain dearly loved his wife, as portrayed, and he changed the way the world looked at cats, and I'm grateful he did.
    8kosmasp

    Cats - not the musical, the better one

    I may be doing the movie a bit of a disservice mentioning that other movie that came out a few years ahead of this. Which also has nothing to do with this movie ... apart from this having cats in it too. Although in this case, the cats are ... well mostly just that: cats! And not people CGIed as cats.

    I probably shouldn't be explaining too much, I reckon if you have seen the movie you'll get the joke. And if you don't want to watch it ... well you'll be missing out on an amazing performance by Benedict Cumberbatch! That Dude is really something ... I saw an interview with him a while ago ... he really takes his craft seriously ... and yet always injects fun into the making of the movies he is in. Like skateboarding while being dressed as Dr. Strange.

    I can only imagine what he did on the set of this movie. With so many talented other actors surrounding him - many of them being female (and part of the family of the character he portrays). I am not aware of the actual Louis Wain, but he seems to have had a rough life. Not sure how many liberties or how big the liberties are that the movie is taking, but it makes up for a coherent piece of storytelling. And what more can one ask for?
    8krocheav

    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain - Challenges Us To Feel

    Some films can firmly claim to be one-of-a-kind, such as; 'The Life of Pi', then there's this one, about a painter I had not heard of from the late eighteen hundreds. Louis was a tortured fellow bordering on several psychotic spectrums while being extremely gifted in the arts, etc - leaving behind his remarkable (and much copied) Cat paintings that took the era by storm. Its style is dazzling all the way, and impresses on many levels - it starts off with a rather convoluted opening, that may not suit viewers with a short attention span or an impatience for understanding what drives a character's actions.

    This is a fact-based story running the gamut of human emotions - seeking to open doorways into the lives of troubled souls who existed during unsympathetic, and rather medically ignorant times (think also of Van Gogh). Production design, performances, cinematography and, music are exemplary, leaving patient audiences with a unique and precious gift.

    Director, co-writer, Japanese/English Will Sharp is no stranger to Bipolar disorders being type 11, and injects powerful understandings into Louis's character. Will's brother, Arthur Sharp, imparts wonderful emotional support supplying a stand-out Theremin based music score. Story writer Simon Stephenson has created a rich human experience giving us much to feel and think about (perhaps there's also a nod to Australian pop artist Martin Sharp here).

    One aspect that created a little disappointment was the decision to photograph in a variation of the old 4 x 3 frame. It added nothing to the story, in fact gave the film a cramped, claustrophobic feel, that can be better achieved in production design. Modern movie makers sometimes, mistakenly, think they need to go backward - away from the vast improvements in aspect ratios, this can sacrifice vital elements within their work. The end credits were neat but why so small? Otherwise, it's quite a special experience from Studio Canal and Amazon Studios.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sound of a Theremin can be heard prominently in the soundtrack. Although rarely used these days due to its association with old horror and science fiction films of the 1950s, in the 1920s, the Theremin was considered a revolutionary and new musical instrument and representative of the dawn of the age of electricity. This is in keeping with Louis Wain's view of electricity being the future of life.
    • Goofs
      It is not true to say, as the film claims, that before Louis Wain cats were not kept as pets in Britain. Many famous people were open about having cats as pets throughout the 19th century and before. Notably Edward Lear, Emily Brontë, Horace Walpole, Florence Nightingale, Robert Southey and Queen Victoria to name but a few.
    • Quotes

      Louis Wain: You make the world beautiful and warm and kind. I just wanted to say thank you for that before it's too late.

      Emily Richardson-Wain: I don't make the world beautiful, Louis. The world is beautiful, and you've helped me to see that, too. Just remember - however hard things get, however much you feel like you're struggling, the world is full of beauty. And it's up to you to capture it, Louis. To look and to share it with as many people as you can. You are a prism through which that beam of life refracts.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: New Year's Eve Show (2021)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 5, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La vida electrizante de Louis Wain
    • Filming locations
      • Coast House B&B, Deal, Kent, England, UK(Exterior, Bendigo Lodge, conservatory)
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Film4
      • Shoebox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,509,173
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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