Widow Clicquot (2023)

Director Thomas Napper’s debut feature film could serve as a feminist tract celebrating the heritage of a strong woman in early 19^th century France. One need not be a connoisseur of the bubbly drink—as an occasional drinker of wine and champagne I was barely aware of Cliquot—to appreciate this woman, of which we read the following in Wikipedia’s article “Veuve Clicquot“:

Madame Clicquot is considered one of the world’s first international businesswomen. She was the first to take over management of a company and guide it, through hazardous times. She brought her wine business back from the brink of destruction turning it into one of the most successful champagne houses. She also spread champagne across the globe.

We first see Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot (Haley Bennett) preparing in 1805 for the funeral of her husband François (Tom Sturridge). Although theirs at first had been a business marriage, we see in various flashbacks that the two had been truly in love, and that Francois had instilled in her his passionate love for wine making. We also soon see how resolutely she is to continue her husband’s work when her father-in-law, Philippe (Ben Miles) announces that he plans to sell the vineyards because the estate is in debt due to the failed wine experiments Francois had conducted. Barbe refuses to accept this decision, proposing to her father-in-law that she she take over the mangement of the company.

Philippe is surprised, but she convinces him to allow her to continue running the business—during the latter period of her husband’s debilitating mental illness she had been managing its affairs. Although the Napoleonic Code relegated women to childbearing and household chores, forbidding them to own property, vote, earn money, or enter a university, there was a loophole that allowed a widow to manage her husband’s business. She works with distributor Louis Bohne (Sam Riley), who helps her reach an international market through smuggling—theter necessary because this is the period of the Napoeanic wars, and the British and its allies have blockaded the country. There is also a romantic relationship that develops between ther and Bohne though, unlike in the usual rom com, Barbe never marries.

There is a major setback when a shipment of champaign bursts open the corks due to the long exposure to heat. This almost ruins her, forcing to sell her possessions. She spends a major part of her time experimentng in her laboratory, attempting to find the right combination of grapes to produce a distinctive flavor. She also labors in her vineyard alongside her workers, which wins their respect.

There is continual disparagement because she is a woman, but her persistence, as well as skills in the office and the laboratory earn her an international reputation as producer of the world’s finest champagne. Once the blockades of France are lifted at the end of the Napoleanic wars, the Russians are especially taken by her product, and her business multiplies. Her champagne becomes the drink of choice for the royal courts of Europe and of high society everywhere.

Barbe Clicquot’s legacy is a part of that of the emergence of women from male domination, as well as champagne becoming the major celebratory drink that it is. As Wikipedia points out, “She played an important role in establishing Champagne as a favored drink of high society and nobility throughout Europe.” The name of the company that is still a major producer today, Veuve Clicquot, is derived from her name, with “veuve” being French for widow.

American actress Haley Bennett makes us believe in and root for the plucky widow who will not give in. I could well imagine her singing Helen Reddy’s feminist anthem, “I am Woman, Hear me roar.” Though the film is probably too sexual for young children, she is a person we should want our daughters to know about. The film makes me wonder if Barbe had read and been inspired by Mary Wollstonecraft’s  A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. I think that the British author would have approved of the French woman’s bold entrance into the male-dominated business world.

This review is in the August issue of VP along with a set of questions for reflection and/or discussion. If you have found reviews on this site helpful, please support us by consider subscribing.