20 for 2009 - Cheri

I realise that you all ar completely au fait with any bits of information I add ino my blog, and that there probably isn't a single film in my top 20 for 2009 that you aren't already salivating over (to a greater or lesser extent). However imagine my annoyance when my number 2 choice was pre-annouced by the Berlinale 09 announcement last week.

I know that the festival wants to big up it's attendees in order to get some good advance publicity, and if the delectable Michelle Pfeiffer were coming to my festival then everyone would know, but in all fairness I think they should have timed their annoucement to coincide with mine.


Doesn't she look lovely?

Cheri is based on a classic French novel by Colette, first published in 1920. It tells the story of an aging courtesan (Pfeiffer) and the death of her love affair with the incredibly handsome younger man Colette (Rupert Friend). The novel itself is beautifully written, even in translation you can see the poetry dripping off the page. The story is slow but measured as you pass from the immense happiness Lea feels when with her lover to destruction of her self esteem towards the end.



Lea is a fantastic part for Michelle Pfeiffer and one which she will be able to work wonders with. It's an especially meaty part when you consider Michelle is more or less the right age for the character, a 49 year one sleeping with a man less than half her age.

Rupert Friend will have much less to do, as the book mainly has him looking gorgeous and cruelly teasing Lea with little room for character development. He can look gorgeous in his sleep though so I expect Rupert will rise to the occasion.

This project marks the first time that Pfeiffer has teamed up with director Stepehen Frears (The Queen, Mrs. Henderson Presents) and writer Christopher Hampton since 1988's Dangerous Liaisons, also based on a historical French novel. That previous film was a big success so we can hope that lighting will be striking twice here.

Alexandre Desplat is scoring and Consolata Boyle is designing the costumes. Both of whom were oscar nommed for their work on The Queen so expect some similar high standards here.

COMPETITON TIME

Cheri is number 2 of my top twenty films in 2009. I will annouce the top film on Wednesday but until then, for a chance to win a large box of chocolates, please guess my top choice... Some clues will appear tomorrow.