‘The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain’ Release Date, Cast, And Plot
A cat can be as mysterious as it is adorable. Artist Louis Wain, whose paintings and drawings brought a certain mystique to Victorian-era London, was well aware of this. “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” follows the real-life artist’s adulthood, telling a compelling storey filled with drama, comedy, and heart about one man’s journey as well as the feline inspirations he discovered along the way.
Will Sharpe, the prestigious project’s director, brings his distinct vision to the project. Sharpe, best known for his work on the hit BBC series “Flowers,” delves into Wain’s personal life with a sense of quirkiness reminiscent of the artist’s distinctive work. Even more impressively, the film highlights Wain’s paintings while also addressing sensitive topics and issues that the artist dealt with throughout his life. However, IndieWire notes in its review of the film that Sharpe and company seem “less concerned with the uncertain details of its subject’s mental health than with the warmth and whimsy he brought to the world.”
Here’s everything you need to know about “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” ahead of its upcoming digital premiere.
On October 22, “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” was released in limited theatres in the United States. International fans will have to wait a little longer to see the film, which is scheduled to be released in 2022. (via Deadline). On November 5, the film will also be available on Amazon Prime. The title will be available to all Prime members at no additional cost.
The film’s theatrical debut followed a string of appearances at film festivals earlier this year. For example, it had its world premiere at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival before going on to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival and other events. It’s easy to see why the film was able to secure spots at such prestigious events. After all, the film’s lead stars are two very well-known actors, one of whom is having an especially busy year right now, in addition to its unique premise and real-life subject.
Who plays Louis Wain in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain?
As the titular character, Benedict Cumberbatch leads the cast of “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain.” Notably, 2021 has been a busy year for the actor, with “The Power of the Dog” also receiving positive reviews at a number of fall film festivals (via Rotten Tomatoes). Cumberbatch spent time researching Louis Wain’s life and habits, just as he did for his role in “The Power of the Dog.” He was even eager to continue honing his performance as the character between takes. “I’d start copying his drawing. Or trying to do stuff blind, or trying to do stuff with two hands,” the actor told The Hollywood Reporter in September. In September, the actor told The Hollywood Reporter.
In the film, Cumberbatch is joined by a number of other talented actors. Claire Foy, star of “The Crown,” for example, plays Wain’s wife, Emily. Her presence in the artist’s life is critical to his ability to further develop his talents as well as his perspectives on love. Will Sharpe also enlisted the help of several actors he worked with on “Flowers,” including Olivia Colman, who serves as the film’s narrator.
“The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” also stars Andrea Riseborough and Toby Jones in addition to these actors.
What exactly is the plot of The Electrical Life of Louis Wain?
The cast of “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” came together to tell the storey of Louis Wain, as the title suggests. The film follows the artist as he rises to prominence for his eccentric cat paintings and falls in love after a governess enters his family’s life. Along the way, viewers get a sense of what it was like to be a person who, like Wain, thought outside of Victorian society’s norms.
Painting and art, on the other hand, represent only one aspect of the artist’s creativity. As a result, “The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” follows its titular character through a number of his various endeavours and pursuits, some of which end in unexpected ways. Unfortunately, the aftermath of each failure only makes Wain more vulnerable than before, making it that much more difficult for him to hold onto himself and his life.
Overall, the film promises to be a human portrait of someone who respected the natural world around him without fully comprehending the true power of what he brought to his friends, family, and even strangers.
The Chicago Sun-Times described it as “a loving and respectful portrait of a man who created irresistibly adorable kitschy cats more a century before their spiritual descendants were racking up the views on YouTube.”