Chéri (2009)

The years preceding the first world war in Paris were characterized by a style of living never equaled again in any other period of time. It was a time of living lavishly in a society where money mattered more than anything. The newly rich, as well as the royalty, loved playing in what became the place where they went to party and see one another, Maxim's.Lea De Lonval was a high class act. She was highly sought by men searching for an adventure, outside their marriage. As the story begins, Lea goes to pay a visit to an old friend, Madame Peloux, a former courtesan, now living in splendor from the fortune she made out of her good fortune while playing the field. Lea is pleasantly surprised to find Cheri, the son of her friend, whom she had not seen in a while.Cheri is instantly smitten by the gorgeous creature he used to know as Nounou. Lean, in turn, feels suddenly alive with the attentions the young man is paying to her. What Lea started as an innocent affair turned into a relationship of six years. Madame Peloux, wanting to have Cheri settled, arranges a marriage with the young daughter of Marie Laure, another woman in their circle who is eager to marry the girl.Lea is not prepared for what happens to her after Cheri goes away, for she had fallen in love at this stage of her life. Trying to forget the young man, she goes to Biarritz in search of adventure, but it is too late for her. She cannot forget the man that brought a new lease to her life. Cheri, on the other hand, is still obsessed with Lea, but during their last meeting she points out to the fact she has aged and he will be better off trying to make a go with his own wife, an unselfish deed on her part.Stephen Frears directed the Colette novel about that golden era in Paris. The adaptation was by Christopher Hampton, a distinguished playwright himself. The production offers a glimpse on that society, focusing on one woman who falls in love against her better judgment and must pay for the pleasure she got. One would have imagined this take on Colette's work could not have a great impact if not done by the French, but Mr. Frears and Mr. Hampton pulled a surprise with this enjoyable film.Michelle Pfeiffer makes a wonderful Lea. She has been one of the most beautiful presence in the movies ever since her beginning. Now, approaching fifty, her looks have not diminished as she glows with a different light. Obviously, she understood the tragedy for the woman she is playing where looks mattered more than anything, and aging was indeed a tragedy. Rupert Friend makes a dashing Cherie. Kathy Bates has some fun playing Madame Peloux, the aging former courtesan. Felicity Jones is seen as Edmee.Cinematographer Darius Khondij captures the atmosphere required of the period where the action is set in vivid colors. The tuneful musical score by Alexandre Desplat adds texture to the film. Stephen Frears got an excellent work out of his cast and crew.

The basis of this delight is adapted from the novels by Colette, Colette wrote about courtesans (influential ladies of the evening in times gone by), We all do remember GIGI.In the late 1980's Dangerous Liasons was made into an excellent film, (basically same subject). This award winning movie was written & directed by the same team that created CHERI, Christopher Hampton & Stephen Frears. These 2 talents have many other fine films in there resumes. Michelle Pfeiffer who was in Dangerous Liasons, is the star of Cheri.They created one more fine film.She portrays an older courtesan in love with a much younger man CHERI. Michele is superb in the role, it is possible that she can get an Oscar nomination for it.A newcomer to films Rupert Friend a handsome young man willing to live off an older women.This is until he meets this sweet innocent young lady. Felicity Jones does this role and does it quite well.Cathy Bates is Cheri's domineering mother.This is a hard role to play well & Cathy does well.The period is prior to the start of WW 1; the sets, costumes are excellent.This is a first class film & should be seen by all who like first class movies.Ratings: ***1/2 (out of 4) 94 points (out of 100) IMDb 9 (out of 10)

Let's see; Michelle Pfeiffer is 51, and Rupert Friend is 28. A typical cougar relationship, except there were no cougars in the late 19th Century France, during the Belle Epoque.This is a period of excess and Lea de Lonval (Pfeiffer) is living on her earnings, and she is teaching Cheri (Friend). the son of a friend (Kathy Bates), a fellow retired prostitute, about life. After six years of companionship, she has grown attached to Cheri, and is dismayed to learn his mother wants him married to the daughter (Felicity Jones) of another prostitute (Iben Hjejle).It is definitely a period piece with lavish costumes and sumptuous living, and emotions the rule of the day.What should have been a French film is decidedly English, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

"Cheri" is the nickname given by Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer) to the young, much younger Fred, whom she brings to discover the truth about lovemaking, and unintentionally but inevitably, about loving. The actor playing Fred is handsome, attractive, but who really hits the sign (as usually, I would say) is Michelle Pfeiffer, who proved to be very courageous in playing a role where she constantly repeats to herself how old she is. Indeed, her beauty, elegance and refinement are always there to remind her and us how difficult it is to come to terms with ageing, mainly when beauty has been the very essence of your life.The plot is almost absent, being the story more based on emotions, moods, sensations, rather than facts, and the movie in the end manages to capture the viewer, thanks to its capability to render the emotional side through glances and through effective and intense framing of both characters and situations: the last one is incisive, almost paralyzing. Ironic and funny moments are not absent, mainly when Cathy Bates, playing the odd, high spirited mother, enters the scene, but the overall tone is a melancholic one, above all for the female public, we cannot but sympathize with Lea's inner strength, and at the same time feel moved by her deep suffering. From an aesthetic point of view, the movie is to be visually appreciated for its pleasant settings, its refined costumes and in general for a deep care for precious details.