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

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45123) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | 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:

Madame Peloux: [to Lea] He pays no attention to me anymore, but I'm sure he'll listen to anything you have to say.

Movie Connections:

Version of Cheri (2003)

An atmospheric love story in pre first world war France

My feelings about this film swung between two competing schools of thought as I watched it.

One - do I feel any attachment and engagement in this story of Belle Epoque Paris where an extremely wealthy courtesan falls in love with the son of an extremely wealthy courtesan, a young man with apparently few redeeming features to his character ?

and

Two - This is a very well made and acted film - Michelle Pfeiffer is excellent, drawing me into the feelings of her character as the film progressed and Rupert Friend makes much of a role that I'm sure other young actors would have found too complex

In the end I settled closer to thought number two - this is a film with much to say about love and who we fall in love with.

I was fortunate to attend a screening of this film at which both the writer - Christopher Hampton & director Stephen Frears were present and enjoyed listening to them talk about the film, it's development and their hopes for it. Two very engaging characters who proved to be happy to answer all kinds of questions that we the Nottingham audience could throw at them