“Quills” is an extraordinary essay about talent and brilliancy. It doesn’t matter that the critics and historians consider the movie historically inaccurate. It is perfectly acted and the ideas are very clearly presented. As the producers said in the year 2000, when the film was released, it was not about the accuracy, “but exploring issues such as censorship, pornography, sex, art, mental illness, and religion.” (cf. Wikipedia)
Quills – the talented Geoffrey Rush
[source] – and all the others
The movie depicts the period when the Marquis de Sade was incarcerated at the insane asylum of Charenton, and he wrote “Justine”. The Marquis is played by Geoffrey Rush, by far one of my favorites actors ever. He is accompanied by Joaquin Phoenix as the Abbé du Coulmier, loved and respected by the patients and the personnel equally. After smuggling out of the asylum the novel pages, through Madelaine, a maid fantastically played by Kate Winslet, de Sade attracted too much of the dictator’s attention, so, a certain Dr. Royer-Collard was designated to solve this heresy. Michael Caine plays a man more sadistic than de Sade, a tormented spirit with no remedy, who took by force an “angel spirit”, Simone (played by Amelia Warner), from a monastery, to be his wife and to adorn his residence, indulging in building materials no matter how expensive. The guy was sick and jealous, and the movie is a continuous fight between this character’s strong will and the unstoppable personality of the Marquis.
Quills – Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix
No matter if de Sade was a genius, his free spirit made victims, and he now became the main reason for changes at the asylum. No more liberties and good life, anyway the money was spent generously by “the Doctor” so there was not much left to improve things at the asylum.
The movie is a piece of art, a 7.4 imdb, with no big gains, by “big”, understanding gains a few times the investment. It made more than it took, and has been all right with that. The movie got three Oscar nominations (Best Actor – Geoffrey Rush, best costumes – Jacqueline West, and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Martin Childs (art director) and Jill Quertier (set decorator), as well as two Golden Globes nominations and four BAFTAs.
Quills – poster
The movie was directed by Philip Kaufman (famous for being sacked, during a contract as a director, by the famous Clint Eastwood, for artistic differences in view) and written by Doug Wright, the author of the original play as well.
Philip Kaufman is famous for directing “Hemingway & Gellhorn” (2012), “Twisted” (2004), “Quills” (2000), “Rising Sun” (1993), “Henry & June” (1990), “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” (1988), “The Right Stuff” (1983), “The Wanderers” (1979), “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978).
Historically speaking, Marquis de Sade had a four years affair with the 14 years old Madelaine, until he died and has been buried on his domain in Malmaison. He left instructions his body not to be opened, but after a few years, “doctors” removed his skull from the grave, for “phrenological examination”. His son, as a brave believer, had all the remained manuscripts burned.
This is the best I could found as a trailer. I hope you’ll have the patience and watch this cruel and sometimes morbid pearl.
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Copyright © 2014 Rodolfo Grimaldi Blog – Quills, a story about the last days of Marquis de Sade
