Will 'Cheri' be a Return to Oscar Glory for Michelle Pfeiffer?

Stephen Frears's latest flick is getting buzz...

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Wednesday, February 4th 2009 at 4:19 AM

Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend in Cheri
Photo: Miramax Films / Pathe

This March the new film from Stephen Frears (The Queen) will hit theaters in the UK as Michelle Pfeiffer stars in the hotly anticipated Cheri a film that stars Kathy Bates as Madame Peloux, a famed courtesan in 1920s France, who sends the spoiled Cheri (Rupert Friend) to her courtesan pal Lea de Lonval (Michelle Pfeiffer) for an adult education, but their six-year affair comes to a painful end when he's forced to marry a wealthy young woman.

Christopher Hampton, who was nominated for an Oscar for his screen adaptation of Atonement (2007) and won for his Dangerous Liaisons (1988) script, adapted the script from the novel by the late Sidonie Gabrielle Colette. Based purely on the talent involved this film is gaining attention considering Frears, Hampton and Pfeiffer were all involved in Dangerous Liaisons and all three have proved to have the talent to bring a great film to the big screen.

Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates in Cheri
Photo: Miramax Films / Pathe

Pfeiffer has been nominated for an Oscar three times, and while she has never fallen off the radar it seems her profile has never managed to attain the heights it did in 1992 when she starred as Catwoman in Batman Returns as well as her Oscar-nominated turn in Love Field. She has always been an actress to keep an eye on, but a film such as this really could once again propel her back into the spotlight. This isn't to say I didn't enjoy her in both Stardust and Hairspray in 2007, it's simply a matter of general perception and not just mine and an Oscar-worthy role is just what the doctor ordered.

Of course, it would be rude of me not to include Bates in the conversation as well with her three Oscar nominations and one win for Misery back in 1991. On top of that Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Queen, Lust, Caution) is scoring the film with cinematography from the Oscar-nominated Darius Khondji (Evita).

While the film won't be released in the UK until March and Miramax is yet to announce a date for a US release, Cheri will make its debut at the Berlin Film Festival on February 10 and will be judged for the first time.

Until then, while there isn't a trailer available yet I have added 23 pictures from the film to the gallery right here so give those a peek, and here is the long synopsis from the Berlin Festival:

Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century is the sophisticated centre of the world. The city’s artists, its fashion, the theatre and its music – everything here is at least one step ahead. But Paris is also famous for its courtesans: women who are so beautiful, intelligent and knowledgeable in the art of love that crown princes, dukes and captains of industry alike are willing to part with large sums of money for the pleasure of their company. One such lady is Léa. She can now afford to lead a comfortable life and has retired from her trade altogether. One day she goes to lunch with her old colleague Mme Peloux. Once a celebrated beauty, age has however made her a resentful and spiteful middle-aged woman. Although Léa does not care for her very much, she nonetheless feels it is her place to show respect for a former colleague. Mme Peloux does not come unattended. She is accompanied by a young man who turns out to be her own son. Chéri, as his mother calls him, is dazzlingly good-looking and enjoys the carefree life of louche hedonism. Mme Peloux has big plans for him, but beforehand, he needs to gain his manhood. Mme Peloux proposes that Léa initiate him. Léa accepts and, before long, something that begins as a playful flirt soon turns into a passionate love affair. An apprenticeship that was meant to take just a few weeks develops into a liaison lasting six years. One day, Chéri is invited to his mother’s residence – alone. What Léa, who has been asked to join them later, does not yet know, is that Mme Peloux has arranged a marriage for her son. Now that the wedding date approaches, the bride and bridegroom are to be presented to Léa. This marks the beginning of a tragic love story which causes misery for all concerned.

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