Chéri (2009)

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.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Christopher Hampton, Colette (novels)

Stars:

Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Lea
Frances Tomelty	...	Rose
Tom Burke	...	Vicomte Desmond
Rupert Friend	...	Chéri
Hubert Tellegen	...	Ernest
Joe Sheridan	...	Marcel
Kathy Bates	...	Madame Peloux
Toby Kebbell	...	Patron
Felicity Jones	...	Edmée
Iben Hjejle	...	Marie Laure
Alain Churin	...	Priest
Bette Bourne	...	Baronne
Nichola McAuliffe	...	Madame Aldonza
Andras Hamori	...	Silver Haired Industrialist
Gaye Brown	...	Lili

Storyline

During France's belle époque before World War I, elegant cars, mansions, and servants defined the lives of les grandes horizontals, the courtesans of kings and millionaires. One of the most successful, Lea de Lonval, is approaching a certain age when an older associate, Charlotte Peloux, asks Lea to take on her 19 year old son, whom Lea has called Chéri since he was a child. They become lovers and, to their surprise, the relationship lasts six years. When it ends abruptly with a marriage his mother arranges to the daughter of another courtesan, Lea finds herself lonely. Has she fallen in love? If so, do she -- and Chéri - have any choices?

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Plot Keywords:

age difference | courtesan | bare breasts | character name as title | period drama | 

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Taglines:

In a game of seduction, never fall in love.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content and brief drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terrence McNally wrote the role of Frankie in the play "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" especially for Kathy Bates. When it came to casting the role for the movie version Frankie and Johnny (1991), Bates lost the role to Michelle Pfeiffer, her co-star in this movie.

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Goofs

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".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: We may think ourselves familiar in this day and age with the notion that whores of every description can very easily achieve fame and fortune. But towards the end of the 19th century, there what came to be known in France as the "Belle Epoque", a select group of courtesans, who became for a short period, the most celebrated and powerful women in the long history of prostitution.

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Connections

Edited into The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Observe & Report/Gigantic/Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)

User Reviews

Why is this movie so badly rated?

Why is this movie rated as 6.2 out of 10? Are people blind? Crowds of movie goers flock to Avatar and Alice in Wonderland, and stuff like Cheri are completely overlooked. This is a delicious flick, with a great unusual and touching romantic story, gorgeous early 20th century atmosphere and brilliant interpretations from gorgeous Michele Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates. The story flows slow and stylishly like the surroundings of Belle Epoque and the final is so moving it makes a stone cry. Definitely the best movie I saw in 2009 together with Bright Star from Jane Campion. Please go see it and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK France Germany

Language:

English French Latin Italian

Release Date:

17 July 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chéri

Filming Locations:

Restaurant Maxim's, 3 rue Royale, Paris 8, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$23,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$405,701, 28 June 2009

Gross USA:

$2,715,657

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,368,242

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bill Kenwright Films, Pathé, UK Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1