Jane Austen discussion

Discussion of the movie Cheri begins today. Join us!

Cheri Web Site

I saw it in the theater and I thought it was beautifully filmed! Since then I've read "Cheri" and "The Last of Cheri" by Colette and I think the adaptation was very good. It captured a lot of the spirit of the novel!
I thought the acting was wonderful, especially Pfeiffer. I also liked the screenplay!

I enjoyed this film. I ADORE all the Belle Epoque production design, of course, and the story is engaging enough. I felt like the ending was a bit jarring, incongruous with the rest of the film. But the final shot of Pfeiffer was a nice play off a similar one at the end of Dangerous Liaisons, which Pfeiffer and director Stephen Frears also did together.

I haven't read the stories which the film was based on, so I can't comment but I am glad I saw the film.

It was a very beautifully filmed movie for such a grim story. The three main characters were great. I need to catch back up with Kathy Bates, because I haven't seen her in anything in a while and she so is watchable. I am liking Rupert Friend more and more too.

Some of it seemed a bit choppy. I regretted that Harriet Walter had such a tiny appearance, so I wondered if some of that had been cut or something. And some of the parts of the movie around Edmee seemed choppy. There was no development there, leaving her seeming a totally cold character, but maybe that was the same in the original story too.

The tone of the movie was unique which I appreciate because I don't like to feel as I have watched a movie before that I haven't.

I have just watched Cheri, it's been difficult to get the chance to see it as children on summer break, staying up later than usual but still too young to have much of an interest in period drama unless you count "Barbie and the Three Musketeers" (which I don't!)

I read Colette when I was doing my A Levels so maybe I was 16/17 and I can barely recall what I read, so think it maybe about time I re-visited these books. As for the film, I seem to remember having read some mixed reviews which meant I wasn't sure what to expect from it. I thought it was creatively shot and very stylish - I enjoyed how they had approached the story with the voiceover setting the scene and moving along the story. I couldn't fault the acting, I thought Michelle Pfieffer was excellent and Kathy Bates also, I love to see both these actresses, they always deliver a performance which is worth watching (apart from Greese 2 - sorry Michelle.) I agree with you Sarah, Edmee wasn't developed very much, it was hard to feel anything about her character as we don't really get to know her.

An original film, georgeous settings with a clear eye for detail and well acted - it actually exceeded my expectations.

I am glad it went over your expectations Em. After a couple of weeks have past, I am still not sure overall how much I liked it. It is not the typical subject matter that I usually read or watch, so I guess for that type of film I liked it pretty well, although I wouldn't give it a perfect score.

Oh, and I glad when the kids get back to regular bedtimes, we will get to see more real period drama besides the Barbie or Disney productions. ha ha I completely understand!

Maybe anything "grown up" is good to me at the moment, I have OD'd on Disney/Barbie et al. Although Toy Story 3 was very good.

Cheri probably isn't a "perfect" film but I liked what they were trying to achieve and to be fair I had low expectations at the outset because of a couple of reviews I'd heard. In all, I did enjoy it though.

Em, join us for some of the other movie discussions if you get a chance. We have a few good ones today and for the next few weeks. You sound like me -- a movie lover -- when you have the chance!