Colette is a 2018 biographical drama film directed by Wash Westmoreland, from a screenplay by Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, based upon the life of the French novelist Colette. It stars Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, and Denise Gough. Colette is a movie based on a true story of the 20th century showing how men have taken credit for women’s work. Actress Kiera Knightley has done incredible acting as the joyful and the restless woman (Colette) who lived the life the way she wanted to. It is a story of a woman who founded her true self while finding her voice. Womenlines is sharing 3 takeaways for modern woman from Colette –
The movie story is about how talented young author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, who initially submits in 1893 to marriage and commercial exploitation by her husband, a publisher Henri Gauthier-Villars, pen-named “Willy”. He brings out her wildly popular Claudine novels (racy autobiographical adventures of girlish yearning) under his own name, and never gave any credit to his wife. The movie moves on showing Colette’s struggle over creative ownership for her own work and how she revolutionized the literature world through her writings in that era.
Take note of her achievements– Colette wrote 50 volumes of novels, short stories, newspaper articles and drama reviews. Her novel Gigi became the basis of the Academy Award-winning movie and stage production of the same name. In 1948, she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1953, she was awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Colette’s warning statement to her husband “the hand that holds the pen writes history” reflects her confidant and determined character. If Colette can stand for herself in those challenging times then the modern woman can do a lot in present times to stand by herself-
- Stand by yourself– Colette’s success in getting claims for her work strengthens the belief that only you can stand by yourself. Just be daring and have a voice of your own. Never be hesitant speaking the truth and fighting for it.
- Take action– The last quote by Colette shows she realized “In her old age, Colette remarked, “What a wonderful life I’ve had. I only wish I’d realized it sooner.” This shows that she regretted that she took the time to stand for herself. It is better to take action to stand by your choice rather than regretting wasting time and realizing about it in future.
- Never underestimate yourself– Self- belief only helped Colette to pursue various careers and create a name for herself in her life. Her faith in herself helped her to write so many novels and stories. If she would have doubted herself nobody would have known who was ‘Colette’.
Charu Mehrotra
Founder- Womenlines
#globalgoodwillambassador #linkedinwonderwoman
Follow Womenlines on Social Media
