'Cheri' unfolds the luminous tale of a French courtesan
Director Stephen Frears ("The Queen") brings a luminous Michelle Pfeiffer back to the screen in the sumptuous adaptation of the classic French novels, "Chéri" and "The Return of Chéri."
Set in the early 20th century, Collette’s stories take us back to the golden age of France’s Belle Epoque, before the Great War (WWI), into a world where smart courtesans could rule the hearts of great men. Screenwriter Christopher Hampton ("Atonement"), who also worked with Frears and Pfeiffer on "Dangerous Liaisons," captures the danger of love in a changing time when women ruled and pure pleasure was the coin of the realm.
Lea de Lonval (Pfeiffer) is a witty and wily older woman in her late 40s. She has reached a certain age and is considering retirement when a fellow courtesan Charlotte (Kathy Baker) asks for help in getting her immature and inexperienced son, Chéri (Rupert Friend, "Pride and Prejudice"), to grow up. Lea tries to become Chéri’s friend and guide but instead begins a six-year relationship with him. Each finds love, but neither realizes the toll it will take when Charlotte decides to marry the dependent Chéri to Edmee (Felicity Jones, "Brideshead Revisited"), the daughter of a rich courtesan, so Charlotte can have grandchildren.
Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend play early 20th-century French lovers in "Chéri," an adaptation of the classic novels.
Frears gets a nuanced and totally truthful, Oscar-quality performance from the beautiful Pfeiffer, who herself is reaching "a certain age." Pfeiffer captures clearly in her acting the conflict Lea feels when she acknowledges her feelings – that she truly loves for the first time in her life but in a relationship that cannot last.
Friend captures perfectly the young man who’s tormented by his love for an older woman but realizes that he has begun having a greater interest in young women; he is forever changed.
The film’s period recreation is perfect. The location filming, set decoration and costumes are glorious, as is the work of cinematographer Darius Khondji ("My Blueberry Nights").
"Chéri" is a wonderful, subtle, impossible love story for people who adore romantic period dramas à là Jane Austen, but with racy, tasteful sex scenes and beautiful people. This is the perfect antidote to the summer brainbusters ... er, blockbusters.