0
0
Though the name Louis Wain may not sound familiar, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen his work: his colorful, whimsical, and sometimes even peculiar paintings of cats. The biopic The Electrical Life of Louis Wan offers a look at the eccentric artist behind all those paintings—and a story that may surprise viewers.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain explores the life and work of the nineteen-century English artist who became famous for his paintings of cats. After his father’s death, Louis (Benedict Cumberbatch) is expected to provide for his five sisters—but he’s not really one to settle into gainful employment, preferring part-time work that will allow him to take boxing lessons and work on writing an opera. But when his sister hires governess Emily Richardson (Claire Foy), it changes his perspective on life and work and the electricity of the world around him.
From his work to his hobbies to his relationships, nearly everything about this quirky artist is unexpected. And while he may make a horrible breadwinner, he’s incredibly lovable nonetheless. Cumberbatch is perfectly delightful in the role, giving his character a childlike enthusiasm for just about everything—even if he isn’t any good at it. He loves to draw and create and explore. When he falls in love with his sisters’ governess, he stirs up all kinds of scandal for his relationship with someone of the serving class. And when they get married and have their own home, they raise some eyebrows by taking in a pet cat named Peter, while, at the time, cats were generally seen as vermin.
What’s the most surprising about Wain’s story, though, is that it isn’t as fun and whimsical as you might expect. In fact, despite Wain’s eccentricities—and his playful artwork—his life was filled with heartbreak and loss. Yet, somehow, he managed to take his own personal tragedies and turn them into so much happiness for people around the world. His story is definitely an unconventional one—sometimes vibrant and colorful, sometimes whimsical and amusing, sometimes absolutely tragic—and that can make it all feel off-balance.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is an atypical film about an atypical artist. It’s a fascinating story, but it all feels about as unfocused and flighty as the artist himself—never quite sure if it wants to be playful or dramatic or quirky. Had it stuck to a more even tone, it would have felt more gratifying.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
