Widow Clicquot

WIDOW CLICQUOT (2024) Cert 15 
Haley Bennett, Sam Riley, Tom Sturridge. Directed by Thomas Napper. (1h 29m)

This graceful and visually sumptuous biopic brings to life the remarkable story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, the pioneering woman behind the world-famous champagne house. It's 1805, and at the age of just 27, Barbe-Nicole (played by Haley Bennett) finds herself widowed and facing enormous pressure to sell her late husband’s struggling winery. Instead, she chooses a path rarely taken by women of her time, transforming the business into a groundbreaking global enterprise. Set against the rolling vineyards of early 19th-century Reims, the film is richly atmospheric, capturing the earthy elegance of its setting with cinematographer Caroline Champetier’s dusky, golden-hued lensing. The story follows the Widow - Veuve in French - Clicquot's determined path to success as she refines what will become the iconic “comet” vintage and, with the help of a charismatic wine broker (played by Sam Riley), circumvents Napoleon’s trade restrictions through an audacious underground sales network. Her struggle is both professional and personal, navigating a world where women were legally and socially sidelined. Haley Bennett delivers a powerful and nuanced performance, slowly revealing the inner steel beneath her composed exterior. Tom Sturridge adds emotional complexity as her passionate but troubled husband, while Riley brings energy and charm as her loyal business partner. This is a celebratory portrait of an innovator who defied the odds, wrapped in the timeless allure of champagne and history. Like a good vintage, it leaves a lasting impression: refined, satisfying, and quietly bold.
 

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