imageChéri is a beautiful film, the sumptuous settings, the exquisite costumes and the attractive cast all make the finished product very pleasing to the eye. The storyline of the older woman and the younger man is refreshingly different from the usual male/female dynamic. Michelle Pfeiffer is extraordinarily beautiful playing the retired courtesan, Léa who falls in love with Chéri (Rupert Friend), the 19 yr old son of a former professional rival, Mme Peloux (Kathy Bates).
imageThe questions the film raises about money and happiness are intriguing. Both Léa and Mme Peloux have invested their money wisely and have amassed an impressive wealth, but they seem unable to fully enjoy this independence. Their freedom comes at a cost, they are separated from polite society because of their profession. There is a sense of tragedy to the film, with each character so intent on self-preservation they can't see that they are the cause of their own unhappiness.
Chéri was not the stock-standard period drama I was expecting. The film poses some nice questions about the hypocrisies of power, money and sex, all displayed in lovely packaging that made the film very engaging.
Click here to read my review at Trespass
