Overview
A groundbreaking journey of a woman who redefines her identity and creativity in a male-dominated world.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- liberating
- stylish
- historical drama night
- literary film evening
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film entertaining and timely, with Keira Knightley's performance strongly carrying its familiar but effective liberation-story framework.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Colette ghostwrites Willy's Claudine novels and fights to receive recognition and control over her creative work.
Parisian artistic salons, music halls, fashion, and period costumes frame Colette's emergence as a cultural figure.
Colette's relationships and public experimentation challenge conventional marriage, femininity, and sexual expression.
Willy initially presents Colette's semi-autobiographical writing as his own commercial property.
Films like Colette, and why
The Danish Girl
period biographical drama centered on a pioneering woman challenging restrictive gender roles and claiming artistic independence
The Hours
stylish literary biopic about a female writer navigating marriage, public identity, sexuality, and creative ownership
The World to Come
lgbtq+ period drama focused on unconventional desire, social constraint, and a woman asserting authorship of her own life
Movie Details
- Director
- Wash Westmoreland
- Release Date
- 2018-09-21
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (962)
Cast
- Keira Knightley
- Dominic West
- Denise Gough
- Fiona Shaw
- Robert Pugh
- Eleanor Tomlinson
- Ray Panthaki
- Dickie Beau
- Jake Graf
- Polina Litvak
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Colette about?
- A determined French writer transforms a husband’s commercial literary enterprise into a bold claim for artistic, sexual, and personal freedom.
- What is Colette like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Colette as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Colette violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Colette.
- What did critics think of Colette?
- Critics broadly found the film entertaining and timely, with Keira Knightley's performance strongly carrying its familiar but effective liberation-story framework.
- Which films are like Colette?
- Films with a similar feel include The Danish Girl, The Hours, and The World to Come.
- How long is Colette?
- Colette runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Colette?
- In United States, Colette streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
