The Chaperone (Michael Engler, 2018) wr. Julian Fellowes, Laura Moriarty; Elizabeth McGovern, Haley Lu Richardson, Géza Röhrig
This is based loosely on part of the life of Louise Brooks, but from the point of view of a woman who acts as her chaperone on her first venture outside of Kansas—to the Big Apple. I'm guessing that Julian Fellowes wrote the screenplay (from the novel by Laura Moriarty) for Elizabeth McGovern. She was one of the stars of his Downton Abbey - the only American in it - and I think he saw a great part for her in this story of Louise Brooks's carer.
Brooks's life looks glamorous from a distance, but it was actually shitty: she was sexually abused by just about every man who came near her – so that it became a major part of her pathology. It says a lot for her intelligence and strength that she survived as long as she did, and even wrote a book or two about it.
This film leaves all that out, and is quite pleasant.
Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 29 June, 2023 | Now: 29 June, 2023