Colette

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Colette

R

2018

1h 51m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

224 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

After moving to Paris, author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette agrees to ghostwrite a semi-autobiographical novel for her husband. Its success soon inspires her to fight for creative ownership and overcome the societal constraints of the early 20th century.

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Critics Consensus

Formally familiar but a brilliant match for its lead, Colette is a thoroughly entertaining biopic and an overdue testament to Keira Knightley's underrated gifts.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Mar 3, 2020

The movie's treatment of her same-sex affairs may be as tasteful as the set design, but the film is an absorbing introduction to a trailblazing artist.

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Cathy Brennan

Time Out

Sep 20, 2019

4/5

Keira Knightley is magnetic in a Paris-set period drama with a dollop of queer feminist energy.

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Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

Jan 26, 2019

[Keira Knightley] gets far more to do and is infinitely better at it than usual in the brisk new period piece Colette

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Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

Jul 9, 2024

4/5

What viewers end up with, fortunately, is the journey of a woman toward empowerment and freedom from societal norms that possesses the power to render them breathless and with a strange desire to conquer the world.

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Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

Dec 7, 2022

Keira Knightley shines as the famous French author who bravely explores both her emerging literary voice and her bisexuality.

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Aug 23, 2022

Everything happens in a documentary capsule, one of mourning, of crying let loose, of memory, but above all, of Resistance. [Full review in Spanish]

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SIMAS C

@simas_eros Oct 17, 2026

A very interesting film about the life of Claudine Colette—a brilliant early 20th-century writer with a penchant for erotic narratives—who lived in the shadow of her husband (also a writer) until she broke free to become one of the most famous French authors of all time, crafting stories based on her own intimate life and experiences that were highly unconventional for the era.

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Camille C

@RT45915064 Oct 18, 2025

As a bisexual woman, I really wanted to love this movie. Unfortunately, it feels like the bisexuality was filmed for an audience that I am not a part of. Keira saves the movie, truly.

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Madam D

@Madam1948 Jul 4, 2025

Seen this twice it is so good. Great watching a young woman learn about her true self & end up making it big. Not many movies are so inspiring to females!

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steve d

@RT35616104 Dec 6, 2022

Big Eyes for writers. a fascinating film, well told.

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georgan g

@RT98616417 Oct 6, 2022

This film is open about the way bi/lesbian women had to live 100 years ago. The heroine is a role model for the modern woman, not just about sexuality, but to find who they are and live their authentic self.

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William K

@Koolbill Sep 28, 2022

Absolutely captivating. Keira Knightly is superb, the production is ultra-beautiful and the story line is fascinating - especially in light of the fact that it's based on historic events and people. I can't say enough about how riveting this film was.

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Wash Westmoreland

Director

Keira Knightley

Colette

Dominic West

Willy

Denise Gough

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Fiona Shaw

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Eleanor Tomlinson

Georgie Raoul-Duval

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Synopsis

After moving to Paris, author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette agrees to ghostwrite a semi-autobiographical novel for her husband. Its success soon inspires her to fight for creative ownership and overcome the societal constraints of the early 20th century.

Director: Wash Westmoreland
Producer: Elizabeth Karlsen, Stephen Woolley, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters
Screenwriter: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Distributor: Bleecker Street Media, 30West
Production Co: Killer Films, Number 9 Films
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.1M
Runtime: 1h 51m

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