Chéri Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A sugar mama in Belle Epoque Paris regrets not putting her boy toy through finishing school, and everyone pays the price with existential angst.

🍿 Chéri: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Léa and Chéri

Set in Belle Époque Paris, the film introduces Léa de Lonval, a wealthy and retired courtesan, known for her beauty and independence. She encounters Fred Peloux, nicknamed “Chéri”, the charming but aimless son of her former rival, Madame Peloux. Madame Peloux asks Léa to mentor Chéri, hoping to steer him away from his dissolute lifestyle. Their initial arrangement soon evolves into a passionate and unconventional affair.

A Six-Year Affair

Léa and Chéri embark on a six-year relationship marked by comfort, companionship, and genuine affection. Despite societal norms and the significant age difference, they find solace and understanding in each other’s company. Léa provides Chéri with stability and guidance, while he brings youthful energy and a sense of purpose back into her life. They indulge in a luxurious lifestyle, shielded from the constraints of conventional relationships.

The Arranged Marriage and Separation

Madame Peloux, driven by a desire for grandchildren and social standing, orchestrates a marriage between Chéri and Edmée, the young daughter of another courtesan. Despite Chéri’s reluctance, he is compelled to accept due to the financial security it offers. Léa, though heartbroken, encourages him to fulfill his obligations and build a life with Edmée. The separation forces both Léa and Chéri to confront the true depth of their feelings and the limitations of their unconventional relationship.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer): A wealthy, retired courtesan who unexpectedly falls in love with a much younger man.
• Chéri (Rupert Friend): The spoiled and aimless son of a courtesan who becomes entangled in a complex love affair with an older woman.
• Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates): Chéri’s manipulative and pragmatic mother, who arranges his marriage for social and financial gain.
• Edmée (Felicity Jones): The young and innocent daughter of another courtesan, chosen to marry Chéri for strategic reasons.
• Vicomte Desmond (Tom Burke): A friend of Chéri and Edmée

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lea de Lonval: “You came back here and you found an old woman.” – Lea says this to Chéri during their final meeting, acknowledging her age and the impossibility of their future together.
• Lea de Lonval: “I loved you as if we were going to die the same day.” – Lea explains the intensity and all-consuming nature of her love for Chéri, disregarding the future.
• Lea de Lonval: “It’s too late.” – Lea’s final, poignant decision reflects the realization that their time together is over, despite their love.
• Madame Peloux: “Don’t you find that when the skin is a little less firm, it holds perfume so much better?” – Said to Lea in a moment of biting wit, highlighting the aging courtesans’ attempts to remain desirable.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $23,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $2,715,657
• Worldwide Gross: $9,368,242

💥 Chéri Reviews

Personal Review

I was completely swept away by *Chéri*’s gorgeous visuals and the complex relationships. Michelle Pfeiffer is absolutely stunning; she embodies Lea’s strength and vulnerability perfectly. The scene where she looks at her reflection at the end… heartbreaking! I appreciated the film’s exploration of aging, love, and societal expectations. However, I wanted to know more about Chéri’s internal struggle. I would watch it again for Pfeiffer’s performance and the atmosphere alone.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of period dramas”
  • “Michelle Pfeiffer admirers”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about unconventional relationships”
  • “Those who appreciate visually rich films with detailed costume and set design”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes including adultery and drug use”
  • “Brief suggestive scenes”
  • “Smoking”

Professional Reviews

• The Hollywood Reporter: “While visually stunning and boasting strong performances from Pfeiffer and Bates, *Chéri* struggles to ignite a compelling narrative, leaving the audience admiring the surface but untouched by the core of the story.
• RogerEbert.com: “Stephen Frears’ *Chéri* is a visually sumptuous and emotionally resonant period piece, anchored by Michelle Pfeiffer’s captivating performance as a courtesan grappling with love and aging. Friend is compelling in the title role, and Bates’ portrayal is wonderful, but the end of the movie falls short of being perfect.
• Rotten Tomatoes: “A beautifully realized world, Michelle Pfeiffer’s luminous presence, and intelligent themes make *Chéri* worthwhile despite its occasionally languid pace and somewhat unsatisfying conclusion. The set and costume design is exceptional.

Audience Reactions

The film’s stunning visual presentation and Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance were widely praised.: Many viewers loved the costumes and sets as well as Pfeiffer’s portrayal of Lea.

Some viewers found the movie to be slow-paced and emotionally detached.: Some found Chéri as a character difficult to empathize with, impacting their investment in the love story.

Overall Consensus: *Chéri* is a visually captivating period drama with strong performances, particularly from Michelle Pfeiffer, but it may not resonate with all viewers due to its pacing and the complexity of its characters.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “During the 1990s, Jessica Lange was attached to star as Léa de Lonval, but the project took many years to come to fruition.”
• “Christopher Hampton adapted the screenplay from two Colette novels: ‘Chéri’ (1920) and ‘The End of Chéri’ (1926).”
• “The film’s costumes and set design aimed for historical accuracy, reflecting the opulent ‘Belle Époque’ era in Paris.”

🖥️ How to Watch Chéri?

As of October 2024, “Chéri” is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for availability and pricing, as these may vary by region. DVD and Blu-ray versions are also available for purchase online and in stores.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Chéri, you might like these similar films:

• Dangerous Liaisons (1988): Also directed by Stephen Frears and written by Christopher Hampton, this period drama explores similar themes of seduction, manipulation, and societal constraints.
• The Age of Innocence (1993): Another beautifully crafted period piece exploring themes of forbidden love and social conventions, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
• Gigi (1958): Based on a Colette novella, this musical explores a similar story of a young woman being groomed for a life as a courtesan in Belle Époque Paris.
• A Single Man (2009): While stylistically different, this movie shares with Cheri an exploration of loss, beauty, and the passage of time with exquisite attention to visual detail.
• Belle de Jour (1967): Explores the secret life of a bourgeois woman who works as a prostitute, offering a darker, more surreal perspective on similar themes of sexuality and societal expectations.

🛒 Chéri Related Products

• Colette: Complete Claudine (Penguin Classics): Dive deeper into the world of Colette with this collection of Claudine novels, the series that established Colette as a major literary voice. Features sharp wit, insightful social commentary, and explorations of female desire and identity.
• Belle Époque: A Cultural History: Explore the historical context with this deep dive into the late 19th and early 20th century France and culture.
• Michelle Pfeiffer: A Life in Pictures: A coffee table book celebrating Michelle Pfeiffer’s career. This book features rarely seen photographs, commentary from Pfeiffer herself, and insights from collaborators.
• The Age of Innocence (DVD): Another classic period drama starring Michelle Pfeiffer, directed by Martin Scorsese, and based on the novel by Edith Wharton. The costumes and art direction alone makes this a must-see.

🎧 Soundtrack

Chéri features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Valse hésitation” – performed by Unknown
• “Fleur de Paris” – performed by Maurice Chevalier
• “La Mer” – performed by Charles Trenet

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Reviews of: Transformers, My Sister’s Keeper, and Chéri

Want to know what the critics thought of ‘Chéri’ back in 2009? This review sums it up along with two other big releases that week. It’s interesting to hear how it stacked up against blockbusters like Transformers!

✨ Rate