Opening & Closing Galas
Petite Maman
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
CÉLINE SCIAMMA, FRANCE, 2021, 72 MIN.
WILL SHARPE, UK, 2021, 111 MIN.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9
13
6:30 PM 6:30 PM 6:00 PM
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE
“He made the cat his own. He invented a cat style, a cat society, a whole cat world. British cats that do not look and live like Louis Wain cats are ashamed of themselves.”–H.G. WELLS ON LOUIS WAIN Running the gamut from slapstick comedy to tragedy, and aging across five decades, Benedict Cumberbatch gives a bravura performance as Louis Wain, an unconventional and deeply idiosyncratic Englishman—a self-styled polymath (at best, a haphazard inventor, fanciful scientist, and unsung composer) who nevertheless struck a deep cultural chord with his knack for imparting human characteristics to cats in hundreds of drawings that simultaneously satirized his own species and flattered the feline. Will Sharpe’s engagingly eccentric first feature begins by painting Louis as an amiably batty but instinctively brilliant outsider artist, out of step with the expectations of Victorian London but chancing on true love in the form of an appropriately unsuitable governess, Emily (Claire Foy), employed to tutor myriad Wain sisters. Although Louis goes on to win fame with his humorous illustrations, the film’s tone darkens. After a tragedy, Louis’ family obligations weigh heavy and his mental health takes a tumble. Yet when it comes to cats, still he finds an irresistible connection. Cast Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones, Sharon Rooney, Aimee Lou Wood, Hayley Squires, Stacy Martin Exec Ron Halpern, Didier Lupfer, Dan MacRae, Julia Oh, Ollie Madden, Daniel Battsek, Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Stephenson Prod Guy Heeley, Ed Clarke, Adam Ackland, Leah Clarke Scr Will Sharpe, Simon Stephenson Cam Erik Alexander Wilson Ed Selina MacArthur Prod Des Suzie Davies Mus Arthur Sharpe Dist/Print MK2 Mile-End
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 MONDAY, OCTOBER 11
6:30 PM 9:00 PM 8:30 PM
PLAYHOUSE PLAYHOUSE KAY MEEK
Petite Maman is a precious, poignant, and perfect film exploring the mysterious bond between mother and daughter. Céline Sciamma (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Girlhood) has dreamed up something strikingly original: a simple, subtle, fluid fairy tale or ghost story, a poetic conceit realized with the utmost tact and delicacy. Nelly’s grandmother has just died. Eight years old, she is largely left to her own devices, exploring the forest behind the house as her parents set about packing it up. There she meets another eight year-old named Marion (like her mom), building a treehouse. The two become fast friends, and Marion invites Nelly back to her home—which turns out to be identical to her grandmother’s house. The two girls have a deep affinity, not least in their serious turn of mind. With a maturity beyond their years, Nelly and Marion recognize their meeting will be both fleeting and irrevocable, like a movie you see just once but that will stay with you always. Cast Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne, Margot Abascal Prod Bénédicte Couvreur Scr Céline Sciamma Cam Claire Mathon Ed Julien Lacheray Prod Des Lionel Brison Mus JeanBaptiste de Laubier Prod Co Lilies Films Dist/Print Elevation Pictures
