Quills (2000)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Philip Kaufman

Writers (WGA):

Doug Wright (play)
Doug Wright (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 December 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

There are no bad words... only bad deeds.

Plot:

In a Napoleonic era insane asylum, an inmate, the irrepressible Marquis De Sade, fights a battle of wills against a tyrannically prudish doctor.

Plot Keywords:

Marquis De Sade | Asylum | Writer | Insane Asylum | France

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 33 nominations

Cast

Geoffrey Rush	...	The Marquis de Sade
Kate Winslet	...	Madeleine 'Maddy' LeClerc
Joaquin Phoenix	...	The Abbe du Coulmier
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Royer-Collard
Billie Whitelaw	...	Madame LeClerc
Patrick Malahide	...	Delbené
Amelia Warner	...	Simone
Jane Menelaus	...	Renee Pelagie
Stephen Moyer	...	Prouix, the Architect
Tony Pritchard	...	Valcour
Michael Jenn	...	Cleante
Danny Babington	...	Pitou
George Yiasoumi	...	Dauphin
Stephen Marcus	...	Bouchon
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Charlotte

Also Known As:

Quills - Macht der Besessenheit (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content including dialogue, violence and language.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:16 | Malaysia:18PL (re-rating) | Iceland:16 | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #37355) | Canada:R (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Though the events in the film are based on reality, they have definitely been 'tarted up' as the opening disclaimer says. In real life, the Marquis' second wife, Marie-Constance Quesnet, was living with him at Charenton, along with their daughter. He did carry on an affair with Madeleine Leclerc (Kate Winslet's character), although Madeleine was thirteen at the time. And contrary to Geoffrey Rush's physical appearance, the real Marquis was, by this point in his life, extremely obese.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Having been whipped on the back, Madeleine proceeds to lie on her back in bed with her mother.

Quotes:

Abbe du Coulmier: I am not the first man God has asked to shed blood in his name. And I am not of the last.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Sean Hayes/Shaggy (#26.12)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Au clair de la lune

Something very special

I originally went to see this one in a movie theater on a whim - I was feeling spontaneous, so I bought a ticket for a movie I knew nothing about, and went in free of preconceptions or expectations.

The cleverness of the very first scenes brought a smile to my face, and I knew I was in for a rare treat; off the top of my head, I can't think of a movie with a better conceived, audience grabbing opening sequence.

And the impression lasted throughout this great film. Quills is a passionate (and entertaining!) cry in defense of artistic freedom, and the fundamental freedoms of speech and religion; and it is a deliciously clever movie, both in dialog and in plot. It is actually a movie that has something to say, and does it in an entertaining, engaging way that doesn't leave the audience feeling that they are being lectured to or talked down to.

A few scenes are gruesome and unpleasant, but they, I think, are a necessary evil for the telling of the story, not a gratuitous shock-tactic.

The performances are excellent throughout, and the storyline is will firmly claim and keep your attention. Quills is the sort of movie that you don't forget, and that'll linger on in your mind long after you've seen it.

I would heartily recommend this movie to anyone - even if it doesn't sound like the type of movie you'd normally go for. I for one am very glad that I happened to be feeling spontaneous the day I went to see it, because otherwise I would most likely have missed it. So give your spontaneity a chance if you happen upon Quills in your local movie rental place.