Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy lead the cast of this charming and gloriously off-beat biopic of the titular Louis Wain, the lover of cats from Victorian England whose eventual, prolific drawings of felines would catapult him to notoriety and gain him legions of fans up and down the country.
Will Sharpe’s fantastic fantastical film spans most of Wains life, from a young man picking fights with bulls in fields, and a brief foray into the sport of boxing, through to his later days some decades later, a legacy of artistry behind him, and a history of mental health issues. The first part of the film sees Wain being offered a job at The Illustrated London News for editor Sir William Ingram (Toby Jones), and, at home, taking on Claire Foy’s Emily Richardson, employed as governess for his five sisters.
We see love blossom between Wain and Richardson during the first act, and eventually marriage, and then the introduction of the small stray black and white cat, Peter, taken into the household as comfort for Richardson who has been diagnosed with a terrible illness. Wain, too finds a muse in the small animal, the artist using him as a model for his earliest works which, over time, and through great hardship and personal tragedy blossom into the hundreds of abstract images of cats that would become famous all over the world.
Sharpe has put together one of the most unique films of the year. Everything from the music, to the exceptional production design, costumes, and particularly the stunning square-ratio cinematography contribute to its wonderful nostalgic feel, a kaleidoscopic journey into the life of one of country’s most distinctive artists.
The film is heartbreaking in places, brilliantly funny in others with Cumberbatch really standing out in one of his finest works – such a huge contrast to his work on The Power of the Dog in which he is nominated for the Oscar – this role is equal to it. Foy, too, is very strong as Richardson, Wain’s eventual wife who was supposed to be ten years his senior, though that’s not entirely believable as Foy definitely look ten years older than Cumberbatch in the slightest.
Also look out for wonderful cameos littered throughout, not least Nick Cave as author H.G. Wells.
An absolute joy from start to finish – a unique film full of wonder and depth that’ll have you laughing one minute and grabbing the tissues the next.
Bonus features – just two featurettes are present on our Blu-ray review copy – a brief ‘making of’ containing interviews with the main cast and crew which, while involving, isn’t really long enough to really get you teeth into. There’s also another short ‘The Man Behind the Cats’ featurette focussing on Wain, which again is enjoyable, but brief. Come for the film, enjoy the bonus materials for what they are – a bonus.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is available now on digital, DVD and Blu-ray.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
Summary
A really exceptional piece of work that features near career-best performances from both Cumberbatch and Foy. An absolute joy from start to finish.
