Quills
At a French asylum, the Marquis de Sade turns forbidden writing into a dangerous challenge to religious, medical, and political authority.
Overview
A provocative tale of passion and creativity set against the backdrop of madness and repression.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- flamboyant
- erotic
- provocative
- arthouse film night
- historical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics generally found the film stylish, provocative, and strongly performed, while acknowledging its disturbing excesses and historical liberties.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Marquis's secretly published books provoke escalating efforts to suppress his voice and control Charenton.
Philip Kaufman's direction and Geoffrey Rush's performance make the asylum and its conflicts flamboyant, stylized, and intentionally extravagant.
The asylum administration and Dr. Royer-Collard respond to de Sade's writing with surveillance, punishment, and threatened institutional closure.
The relationships among de Sade, Madeleine, the Abbé, and Royer-Collard intertwine sexual desire with authority and repression.
Films like Quills, and why
The Libertine
shared period setting, literary rebellion, erotic charge, and conflict over censorship and institutional power
Dangerous Liaisons
shared eighteenth-century atmosphere, scandalous sexuality, aristocratic decadence, and theatrical historical drama
Benedetta
shared biographical drama, artistic transgression, oppressive institutions, and flamboyant central performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Philip Kaufman
- Release Date
- 2000-11-22
- Runtime
- 124 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (752)
Cast
- Geoffrey Rush
- Kate Winslet
- Joaquin Phoenix
- Michael Caine
- Billie Whitelaw
- Patrick Malahide
- Amelia Warner
- Jane Menelaus
- Stephen Moyer
- Tony Pritchard
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Quills about?
- At a French asylum, the Marquis de Sade turns forbidden writing into a dangerous challenge to religious, medical, and political authority.
- What is Quills like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Quills as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Quills violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Quills as moderate.
- What did critics think of Quills?
- Critics generally found the film stylish, provocative, and strongly performed, while acknowledging its disturbing excesses and historical liberties.
- Which films are like Quills?
- Films with a similar feel include The Libertine, Dangerous Liaisons, and Benedetta.
- How long is Quills?
- Quills runs 124 minutes.
- Where can I watch Quills?
- In United States, Quills is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
