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IMDbPro

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

  • 20212021
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
13K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,816
220
Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever. Moving from the late 1800s through to the 1930s, we follow the incredible adventures of this inspiring, unsung hero, as he seeks to unlock the "electrical" mysteries of the world and, in so doing, to better understand his own life and the profound love he shared with his wife Emily Richardson (Claire Foy).
Play trailer2:34
2 Videos
32 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
13K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,816
220
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson(screenplay by)
      • Will Sharpe(screenplay by)
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Claire Foy
      • Andrea Riseborough
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson(screenplay by)
      • Will Sharpe(screenplay by)
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Claire Foy
      • Andrea Riseborough
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 159User reviews
    • 110Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    First Look Clip
    Clip 1:55
    First Look Clip

    Photos32

    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Aimee Lou Wood, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrea Riseborough, and Sharon Rooney in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
    Sharon Rooney in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Louis Wain
    Claire Foy
    Claire Foy
    • Emily Richardson-Wain
    Andrea Riseborough
    Andrea Riseborough
    • Caroline Wain
    Toby Jones
    Toby Jones
    • Sir William Ingram
    Sharon Rooney
    Sharon Rooney
    • Josephine Wain
    Aimee Lou Wood
    Aimee Lou Wood
    • Claire Wain
    Hayley Squires
    Hayley Squires
    • Marie Wain
    Stacy Martin
    Stacy Martin
    • Felicie Wain
    Phoebe Nicholls
    Phoebe Nicholls
    • Mrs. Wain
    Adeel Akhtar
    Adeel Akhtar
    • Dan Rider
    Asim Chaudhry
    Asim Chaudhry
    • Herbert Railton
    Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi
    • Max Kase
    Crystal Clarke
    Crystal Clarke
    • Alicia Simmonds
    Daniel Rigby
    Daniel Rigby
    • Bendigo
    Richard Ayoade
    Richard Ayoade
    • Henry Wood
    Julian Barratt
    Julian Barratt
    • Dr. Elphick
    Dorothy Atkinson
    Dorothy Atkinson
    • Mrs. DuFrayne
    Nick Cave
    Nick Cave
    • H.G. Wells
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Will Sharpe(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sound of a Theremin can be heard prominently in the soundtrack. Although rarely used these days due to its association with old horror and science fiction films of the 1950s, in the 1920s the Theremin was considered a revolutionary and new musical instrument and representative of the dawn of the age of electricity. This is in keeping with the Louis Wain's view of electricity being the future of life.
    • Goofs
      When Mr. Wain first arrives in New York, as he walks along a city street. The year shown on the screen is 1907. As he walks down the street, he is passed by several horse drawn carriage and then an automobile of early 1900 vintage. Next, another in car passes which is from the post 1915-1925 era, later than the timeframe depicted.
    • Quotes

      Louis Wain: You make the world beautiful and warm and kind. I just wanted to say thank you for that before it's too late.

      Emily Richardson-Wain: I don't make the world beautiful, Louis. The world is beautiful, and you've helped me to see that, too. Just remember - however hard things get, however much you feel like you're struggling, the world is full of beauty. And it's up to you to capture it, Louis. To look and to share it with as many people as you can. You are a prism through which that beam of life refracts.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: New Year's Eve Show (2021)

    User reviews159

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    tragedy or triumph?
    Greetings again from the darkness. If you fancy yourself a cat lover, you've likely seen his drawings, or at least some of the many 'copies' that other artists have produced over the years. Louis Wain was a prolific British illustrator, best known for his anthropomorphic paintings and drawing of cats (think of the kitschy paintings of dogs playing poker). Writer-director Will Sharpe and co-writer Simon Stephenson have delivered a biopic of Wain that focuses less on his art, and more on his gradual mental breakdown.

    The film opens in 1881, and Louis Wain (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) is a young man, whose life has just drastically changed. The death of his father has forced Wain into the role of breadwinner for his five younger sisters and their aging mother. Initially, we aren't sure what to make of Wain. His stern and demanding sister Caroline (Andrea Riseborough) is unforgiving of his whims and demands that he find steady work to support the family. An interview with an editor/publisher played by Toby Jones allows us to see what a gifted illustrator Wain is ... and his speed is substantially due to an incredible ability to draw with both hands simultaneously.

    Wain's eccentricities include a belief in the electrical currents that drive all life forms. The film doesn't spend much time on this, but it seems to be a cog in his mental illness - deemed schizophrenia (though that's been debated). Wain overcomes his insecurity around his cleft lip and marries Emily Richardson (Claire Foy), the governess to his sisters. For the times, this was quite a scandal, given the differences in age and social standing of Louis and Emily. However, it seems as though she was the only one who understood and encouraged him as an artist.

    When tragedy strikes, Wain becomes inspired by their pet cat, Peter. In fact, Peter becomes Wain's muse, and leads to thousands of drawings for publication in newspapers, magazines, greeting cards, and just about every other platform. Olivia Colman provides some lively narration, and Taika Waititi and Nick Cave both have brief cameos. Cumberbatch is a bit over-the-top with his tics in the first half of the film, but his talent is clear as he portrays a man whose mental health deteriorating, and one who must rely on his special skill to find purpose. Wain spent the last 15 years of his life in a hospital, illustrating right up until the end. While Wain's legacy lives on in his work, there is also a message here - embrace your weirdness!

    Amazon Studios will release THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN in theaters on October 22nd, 2021 and on Prime Video on November 5th, 2021.
    helpful•45
    21
    • ferguson-6
    • Oct 21, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 5, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Louis Wain
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Film 4
      • Shoebox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,509,173
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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