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Director: Thomas Napper
Cast: Haley Bennett, Tom Sturridge, Sam Riley
Haley Bennett (Cyrano, Hillbilly Elegy) offers up a soaring performance as “Madame Barbe-Nicole Clicquot” who becomes a young widow (“veuve” in French) and single mother with the unexpected death of her husband François. As Napoleon begins to flex his imperial power across the European continent, the widow Clicquot inherits control of her husband’s company, which involves not only banking and trade, but also the production of champagne. Placing her focus solely on making (and perfecting) this highly coveted beverage, Barbe-Nicole’s ambition, patience, and persistence ultimately leads her to develop innovative techniques that have withstood the test of time and establish the Veuve Clicquot champagne empire that is still revered for its quality to this day.
Based on the New York Times bestselling biography, this film from director Thomas Napper tells the true story of woman who, faced with unenviable odds, perseveres in an industry dominated by men and a world dominated by draconian laws to become a major icon of 19th-century Europe.