THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN
In this unconventional biopic, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as English artist Louis Wain, who elevated the status of cats in Victorian England with his whimsical drawings.
Louis Wain was a man of varied interests and pursuits—art teacher, musician, inventor, boxing enthusiast, and newspaper illustrator. However, he’s best known for his vibrant artwork depicting large-eyed, anthropomorphized cats drinking tea, fishing, attending parties, and wearing clothes in colorful, playful, and at times psychedelic settings. Will Sharpe’s delightful and fittingly idiosyncratic film tells the story of Wain’s life over four decades, capturing his rise to prominence and subsequent fall from the public eye. Getting his start drawing animals at the county fair, Louis’s captivating work soon captures the fascination of late 19th-Century England, bringing newfound popularity both to Louis and to the then-abhorred cat. Despite the popularity of his work, Wain’s life is full of hardships, made more difficult by his lifelong anxiety. Yet he finds true love in his cherished wife Emily (Claire Foy), and his determination to honor her motivates his work. In a career highlight performance, Cumberbatch brings to life this eccentric yet very human figure, who struggled to navigate the world around him yet continued to pursue life’s meaning and bring joy to others through his work.
CAST: Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones
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