‘Widow Clicquot’ is a sparkling mix of history lesson and female empowerment
I didn’t realize I would learn so much about the Champagne industry by watching about an hour and 30 minutes of the drama “Widow Clicquot,” but here we are.
Haley Bennett stars in the titular role of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, Veuve Clicquot or “Widow Clicquot,” whose innovations revolutionized the Champagne industry and are still used today.
The film is one of love, loss, grief, innovation, passion, change and womanhood — none of which hits you till the end during Bennett’s beautiful monologue.
Director Thomas Napper sprinkles just enough detail throughout the movie to help you piece together Barbe-Nicole’s life with her late husband Fran?ois Clicquot and daughter Clementine, while also pulling you into real time and her attempts to keep the family vineyard alive.
All I wish was that there wasn’t so much back and forth so that the audience could truly see the ideas, creativity and strength Barbe-Nicole was putting into winemaking.
Nonetheless “Widow Clicquot” sparkles and about 90 minutes was not nearly enough.
What is ‘Widow Clicquot’ about?
“Widow Clicquot” is from a screenplay by Erin Dignam and Christopher Monger based on the book of the same name by Tilar J. Mazzeo.
The film starts off as one seemingly about a romance between Barbe-Nicole and her late husband Fran?ois as she deals with the grief of losing him. She is shown getting dressed in funeral attire and sobs over the loss of the love of her life.
She then receives news that she has been left in control of his vineyard and Barbe-Nicole takes on the challenge in his memory.
Initially, she struggles with getting the workers to believe in her as she is a woman in 19th-century France, under the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte, and she is seen as nothing more than someone who should have children and stay at home, not someone who should run a business.
While working to make the vineyard successful as financial trouble arises, more details are revealed about the passionate relationship between Barbe-Nicole and Fran?ois through flashbacks, and not everything is as picture-perfect as it seems.
Fran?ois was dealing with mental health issues, which in turn led him to be violent, explosive and erratic towards his family. Barbe-Nicole was also paying more attention to the inner workings of the Champagne industry than she let on to her husband, even though they both promised never to hide anything from each other. There were certain steps that Barbe-Nicole had to take for the safety of herself and her daughter.
In real time she develops an intimate relationship with Louis Bohne (Sam Riley), the wine merchant for the vineyard and a close friend of Fran?ois. She also creates the inaugural "Comet" vintage, which is still considered the greatest in the history of winemaking (according to the film).
When Barbe-Nicole finally experiences a little bit of success with her Champagne endeavors, she is brought in front of a panel that questions if she is actually a widow — due to her romance with Louis — and in the right state of mind to run the vineyard.
Louis proposes to her, which she turns down as they both smile. Barbe-Nicole lived until she was 89 and never remarried.
Haley Bennett is anything but bitter and dry as the widow
To say Bennett carries this film on her back is an understatement. She takes on the challenge of depicting romance, passion, grief, strength and perseverance.
As viewers see Barbe-Nicole deal with the loss of her husband, Bennett makes you feel that loss with her through her emotional sobs. She also makes you feel the romance brewing between her and Fran?ois, and then again with Louis.
She shows the creativity brewing in her head through her eyes when Barbe-Nicole is coming up with a new wine or plan to sell.
Her emotional monologue when speaking in front of the panel really seals the deal.
“It’s hard to listen to how others define you,” Barbe-Nicole says. “As if you are somehow fixed, unchanging, one person instead of the many that we all are.”
She tells the audience that she loves her husband and Louis, and that her husband is not dead, but he lives in the vines. All things can be true at the same time.
And when her sanity comes into question, she shuts the men down, representing the struggle to be taken seriously as a woman during the time.
“Why would I not be the authority on the subject of myself,” Barbe-Nicole says. “I am telling the truth as I know it. Even though I see that telling the truth means I might not be readily understood by men as it may not be what it is, familiar, expected. But the truth is, as I listened to you, I was glad to be a woman, even if I lose the rights of men.”
'Widow Clicquot' 3.5 stars
Director: Thomas Napper.
Cast: Haley Bennett, Tom Sturridge, Sam Riley.
Rating: R for sexual content, full nudity and some violence.
How to watch: In theaters Friday, July 19.
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow @dina_kaur on X, formerly known as Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Haley Bennett is anything but bitter and dry in 'Widow Clicquot'
