This watered-down version of the story of Madame Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, known as the grande dame of champagne, is all syrup and no astringency. Haley Bennett wafts prettily through the film as the young widow of the heir to the Clicquot vineyard. Tom Sturridge, appearing in assorted flashbacks, acts mostly with his poetically tousled hair as her passionate and unpredictable late husband, François. And Sam Riley is upstaged by his dashing collection of flouncy scarves as wine exporter Louis Bohne.
Based on the bestselling biographical book by Tilar J Mazzeo, , directed by Thomas Napper, leans heavily on lush, picture-postcard shots of the French countryside: the champagne region’s tourism board will no doubt be delighted. But for all the stirring proto-feminist messaging, this is a curiously uninvolving piece of storytelling.
