There’s something both complicated and beautiful about the right glass of wine. And this is also true of the people that make it.
Directed by Thomas Napper, Widow Clicquot follows Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot (Haley Bennett) as she grieves the loss of her beloved husband. Having been left the family’s fledgling wine business in his will, Clicquot finds herself under pressure to relinquish the land to male buyers. But she refuses to sell, beginning a journey that will change the shape of the wine industry as she leads the company through political and financial upheaval. Neverthless, her willingness to defy the odds (and her staunch critics) allowed her to become one of the world’s most iconic businesswomen and the face of one of champagne’s greatest brands.
Like the bottle that she so meticulously creates, Widow Clicquot is a story that unfurls in its own time. Splitting his narrative between past and present, Napper allows the film to balance Clicquot’s rise in the industry with its complicated love story. Here, the timelines bleed into one another, revealing the ways that the deep love she held for her late husband also made her such a powerful voice in a time of masculine dominance. As such, while it may be set during the Napoleonic Wars, there’s little doubt that this is a film with modern sensibilities. Conversations about the feminine strength and changing views on mental health fuel the script, setting it apart from other period films.
Much of the film’s success is due to some wonderful work from Bennett. As Clicquot, the star exudes a confidence that carries the film. Even in moments of grief, Bennett is inquisitive, assertive and, most importantly, determined. Facing a world that would keep her on the sidelines solely because of her gender, Bennett ensures that there’s a ferocious independence within her character that stands against a culture that opposes her. There’s a strength within Clicquot that keeps steady her in an unstable world.
And this is an essential quality, especially within the wine industry. While the landscape may be sweeping and beautiful, building the Clicquot empire was fraught with strife. As Barbe-Nicole fights for herself, so too does the film highlight the struggle to preserve her product as well. Poor weather, staffing issues and the Napoleonic wars raging around her all attempt to derail her work in an industry that demands a meticulous nature. (Even the way that berries are picked affects the wine, we’re told.)
Much like other recent films about the origin of popular brands, Widow Clicquot treats its subject with a certain reverence. Even so, its powerful representation of femininity makes it unique. Unlike other films such as The Social Network, BlackBerry or AIR, Clicquot’s journey embraces the challenges of women stepping into leadership in an industry dominated by men that explicitly want her to fail.
Yet Clicquot remains undeterred.
Pouring over every glass, Clicquot demonstrates the sort of passion for her work that develops excellence. She believes in what she’s creating—and knows that it can be the best on the market. (In fact, her innovation and care for her product changed the industry in ways that continue to this day.)
In the end, Widow Clicquot proves to be a distinctively beautiful vintage. More than simply another period piece, the film is fascinating both for its exploration of the complications of the wine industry and its celebration of one of the central women who built it. Backed by strong work from its lead, Clicquot surprises with its intrigue and ends up being a piece to which its worth raising a glass.
Widow Clicquot is available in theatres on Friday, July 19th, 2024.
