“The Widow Clicquot” reviewed

The legend of one of France’s most prestigious wines is a marvelous story that deserves a lush, big screen treatment. Feminist triumph, astonishing innovation and rich historical context are expertly blended into a captivating visual experience.

Above production image courtesy of Vertical.

The Widow Clicquot charts the extraordinary accomplishments of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot (Haley Bennett). As the first woman to run a champagne house, she is known as “La grande dame of Champagne” – responsible for elevating the Veuve Clicquot champagne dynasty during the early 1800s in France.

It’s a portrait of audacity and defiance as well as a thrilling tale of modernization and refinement. To this day, Barbe-Nicole’s legacy endures thanks to her three inventions that completely revolutionized champagne-making techniques; creating the first known vintage champagne, devising blended rosé champagne, and inventing the riddling table—which allowed for the mass production of champagne.

Set within the social and historical context of France during the Napoleonic era, the drama’s dual narrative is told in a non-linear style, reflecting the heartbreaking mental decline of her passionate young husband. Ben Miles plays Philippe Clicquot-Muiron and the film implies he may have exhibited bipolar disorder and came to rely heavily on laudanum. Barbe-Nicole took control of the Champagne house he had co-founded after his untimely death – left a widow at the age of 27 with a six-year-old daughter. Ultimately, her determination and ferocious intelligence helped her navigate a male-dominated industry until her death at 88.

Thomas Napper’s direction and Caroline Champetier’s intimate cinematography cocoons you in the grandeur of the period, along with its elegant costumes and richly detailed scenic designs. The soft, warm light of harvest season in France countryside features in the film’s painterly photography, delighting the senses.

Despite being an empowering tale of triumph, the best aspects of this film are its beauty and its restraint. It doesn’t need to sensationalize an already remarkable true story; such is the impact of her legacy, the brand and company of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin came to bear her birth name.

The Widow Clicquot is now available for streaming on Netflix.