COLETTE (15)

★★★★ ★

THE true story of French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, who challenged the supposed limitations of her gender in early 20th-century Paris. Colette (Keira Knightley, pictured) marries author Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West), who uses the pen name Willy. He is under intense pressure to deliver a new work but prefers to devote his time to dalliances.

When Willy discovers Colette’s gift with words, he encourages her to document her formative years on the page and takes credit for her first book, Claudine A L’Ecole. The tale of a 15-year-old girl’s rites of passage becomes a sensation and Henry encourages Colette to pen further adventures.

Over time, she becomes frustrated that only Willy visibly profits from her hours of toil. The aggrieved wife refuses to remain silent and speaks out with support from lover, noblewoman Mathilde de Morny (Denise Gough).