Movie Review: Widow Cliquot

 Movie Number 9 of 2025

The Movie: Widow Cliqout

The Cinema: The Rivoli, Camberwell

Stars: 3.75

File this one under pretty to look at. Widow Cliquot is only 90 minutes long, and you'd think that a movie about the history and making of champagne can't be a bad thing, but this film left me a bit ambivalent. It's interesting enough, it's set in France around the time of the Napoleonic wars. The history is very interesting, but that's about where it ends. 

The movie provides the story of Barbe-Nicole Cliquot (Haley Bennett), the heir to the Cliquot Champagne house and vineyard. In the movie her husband Francois (Tom Sturridge) is mentally ill and eventually dies - although in the film, the chronology is all over the place, yet still followable. The film follows Barbe-Nicole's fight to save her vines and product, eventually perfecting one of the best-known champagne brands in the world. 

And yes, it's pretty to look at. It's film in the Champagne region of France, of course it's going to be a pretty film. 

But here's my problems with the film - which are small, but there. Firstly, this is a French story - why is this being told by the English. It's a great English cast, but I reckon the French would have done it better. Just saying. 

Secondly, not that much happens in this. It is interesting, but it only just keeps your interest. Any longer and I could see a nap taking place. 

Thirdly, I have a bit of an issue with both Haley Bennett and Tom Sturridge. Bennett I find wooden. This is a quiet part for her, which suits her better than other roles she's taken on (the diabolical Music and Lyrics being one of those roles.) I just find she lacks charisma. 

And Tom Sturridge looks a bit too much like one of my exes - so he always gets up my nose. 

As a Friday night diversion film, this is fine. My expectations for this weren't that high. It was an interesting story. It was pretty to look at. It's made me want to learn more about the history of champagne. 

But it was just okay. Some good things and bad things. There are a lot better movies out there at the moment. This one is pretty innocuous when it all comes down to it. 

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