THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN (12A)
★★III
In 1881, socially awkward illustrator Louis Wain (Cumberbatch) funeral marches alongside his mother (Phoebe Nicholls) and five sisters, Caroline (Andrea Riseborough), Marie (Hayley Squires), Josephine (Sharon Rooney), Claire (Aimee Lou Wood) and Felicie (Stacy Martin).
Their father’s death shifts the household’s financial burden squarely onto Louis’ narrow shoulders.
“As the oldest and malest of the Wain siblings, it had unfortunately become his responsibility,” explains Olivia Colman’s droll narrator.
Louis secures fitful employment with the Illustrated London News edited by Sir William Ingram (Toby Jones) and hires young governess Emily Richardson (Claire Foy) to further his sisters’ education.
Love blossoms between the reluctant master of the house and Emily, risking a scandal.
They marry and soon after, Emily is diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I’m the one who’s ill, Louis. Don’t you start wallowing in it too,” Emily orders her terrified spouse and he begins to draw a stray cat, which they christen Peter. Louis’ pictures of anthropomorphised moggies go on to
shift the public’s perception of the animals from simple mouse-catchers to cherished companions.
The joy that radiated from those works of art sadly does not emanate from The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain.
Sharpe’s wilfully offbeat portrait of a conflicted artist lacks clear narrative focus, hastily sketching supporting characters but neglecting to colour them in.
Cumberbatch’s confident central performance and his pleasing chemistry with Claire Foy papers over some of the cracks, but with a running time close to two hours, Sharpe’s picture outlives our patience.
■ Released: January 1 (UK & Ireland)