“Widow Clicquot”, interview with director Thomas Napper

November 6, 2023

The Incredible Story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, the Champagne Grande Dame

"Widow Clicquot", interview with director Thomas Napper Federica Scarpa

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At the Rome Film Festival 2023, we had the opportunity to talk with director Thomas Napper about his outstanding work on “Widow Clicquot”.

This film tells the unique and captivating story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, an extraordinary woman who revolutionized the champagne industry in the 18th century. Barbe-Nicole’s story is presented through a compelling narrative that defies time, shifting between the present and the past, offering an intimate view of her struggles and dedication to the vineyard.

The Film

“Widow Clicquot” is a captivating portrayal of Barbe-Nicole’s life, based on the New York Times bestselling biography, “The Widow Clicquot” by Tilar J. Mazzeo. Shot in France, the film offers a mesmerizing glimpse into Barbe-Nicole’s life and the evolution of her wine empire. Thomas Napper, the director, embarked on this project with a unique vision, capturing the essence of an extraordinary woman who defied the norms of her time.

The Making of “Widow Clicquot”

Throughout the interview, director Thomas Napper (who worked as 2nd Unit director with Joe Wright for the last 12 years) shares his deep connection with Barbe-Nicole’s story (played by Haley Bennett) and his desire to tell the remarkable tale of her transformation from a young widow to a champagne magnate. Napper reveals the unique setting of the film, shot in Burgundy and the heart of Champagne, and the importance that the locations mean for the making of the film.

The director emphasizes Barbe-Nicole’s story as one of personal transformation, of a woman finding her voice and identity through work in the vineyard. A unique narrative that traverses time, the film unfolds as a ghost story, gradually filling in the gaps of a life lived and tragically lost.

Plot

In 1805, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, at just 27 years old, lost her husband, François Clicquot. They had been in love, despite their having been an arranged marriage, and together they had worked to develop innovative methods in the wine production of the family business. Despite the ostracism of the Napoleonic code on female entrepreneurial activities (with a small exception for widows) and the opinionated perplexity of her father-in-law, Barbe-Nicole persists in continuing the business, at 360 degrees, from cultivation to sale. And she creates Veuve Clicquot, the most famous champagne in the world. Haley Bennett (Roxanne in Wright's Cyrano) imposes her luminous strength in the creation of an avant-garde female figure, driven by passion, not only love but also creative, in a film set in Napoleonic France but mindful of the sisters' atmospheres Bronte. Produced by Joe Wright.

Written by: Federica Scarpa

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Film

Widow Clicquot

Festival

Festa del Cinema di Roma

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“Widow Clicquot”, interview with director Thomas Napper