Quills

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Quills

R

2000

2h 3m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

125 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A fictional work that reconstructs the unknown fate of the Marquis de Sade, the writer and sexual deviant who was imprisoned in an insane asylum for the last 10 years of his life. The Marquis de Sade befriends the director of the asylum and shares affections with the asylum laundress. When a doctor is sent in to cure the Marquis of his supposed madness, the Marquis's rebellious character only grows stronger.

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Critics Consensus

Though hard to watch, this film's disturbing exploration of freedom of expression is both seductive and thought-provoking.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

03/06/2018

A literate, playfully provocative defense of free speech at its most abominable, Philip Kaufman and Doug Wright's movie impudently positions the Marquis de Sade as the twisted spokesman for the creative spirit.

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Jeremy Gerard

Variety

02/23/2012

"Quills" is sensational in every sense of the word.

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Derek Adams

Time Out

06/24/2006

It pokes at sexual taboos - it's pretty subversive, considering - but sexuality and creativity are indelibly linked, and its true subject is expression, repression and catharsis.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

02/08/2011

C+

Kaufman's biopic of the notorious Marquis de Sade is sharply uneven, serious, poignant, trashy, sleazy and sensationslist, marred by over-the-top turn from Geoffrey Rush.

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John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

06/07/2010

B

a conceptual piece about the nature of creativity and questions of art

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Hollywood.com

11/20/2008

3/5

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D A N I Î L

@dhdez87 12/02/2023

Perturbing, hilarious, seductive. Great acting! It's simply an excellent film.

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J K

@RT45085245 09/06/2023

Underrated. We need a blu ray version as well!!

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Thomas M

@TMProofreader 11/25/2022

The best filmmaking debut ever from Doug Wright!

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michael d

@RT16138633 12/03/2021

Exceptional acting, particularly Geoffrey Rush populating a film that is literate, erotic, and yearning to be heard. The message is that we are all expressions of natures and to live most successfully we must understand that.

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08/25/2020

It's more erotic than any erotic movies you've seen so far. The sadist in SM is so perverted that it originated from the word "Marquis of Sadi". Had he met a masochist, he would have enjoyed enormous erotic kinky sex.

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steve d

@RT35616104 07/02/2020

Sometimes a tough watch but well worth it especially for Rush's scary performance.

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Philip Kaufman

Director

Geoffrey Rush

The Marquis de Sade

Kate Winslet

Madeleine

Joaquin Phoenix

Coulmier

Michael Caine

Dr. Royer-Collard

Billie Whitelaw

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Synopsis

A fictional work that reconstructs the unknown fate of the Marquis de Sade, the writer and sexual deviant who was imprisoned in an insane asylum for the last 10 years of his life. The Marquis de Sade befriends the director of the asylum and shares affections with the asylum laundress. When a doctor is sent in to cure the Marquis of his supposed madness, the Marquis's rebellious character only grows stronger.

Director: Philip Kaufman
Producer: Julia Chasman, Peter Kaufman, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Doug Wright, Doug Wright
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Industry Entertainment, Fox Searchlight, Walrus & Associates, Hollywood Partners
Rating: R (Strong Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.1M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)