The Electrical Life of Louis Wain Review

September 26, 2021 at 10:55pm
By Joelle Rondeau

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is a beautifully creative film that explored the life of Louis Wain. Wain was incredibly portrayed by the talented and critically renowned Benedict Cumberbatch. Cumberbatch gave a dynamic and heartfelt performance through the triumphs and tragedies of Wain’s life.

The film began with a lighthearted and playful tone as we are introduced to Louis, the Wain family, and Emily Richardson. Louis is a man of many passions whose brain is running frantically with ideas. He works as an illustrator and is quite the exceptional artist but does not want to limit himself to one career path. Louis is the man of the family and is responsible for supporting his five sisters and his mother.

Financial issues are a reoccurring concept throughout the film as the family attempts to remain within the upper middle class. Emily Richardson, played by Claire Foy, is the hired governess of the Wain household who catches the admiration of Louis. Classic Victorian era forbidden love ensues. The courtship between Louis and Emily is quirky, but charming. Foy and Cumberbatch display great chemistry as Louis and Emily navigate their feelings for one another.

Louis and Emily explore life together when the most heartwarming thing happens – they find a little kitten out in the rain and take it in. The kitten becomes like a child to Louis and Emily, and they raise the kitten as a beloved pet and take the kitten on many adventures. Historically, cats were seen as pests, they were outcasts in the world. Cats were domesticated, but they were only kept as mousers, they had a job to do.

To counter that, Louis illustrated magnificent drawings of the kitten capturing its adorable and spunky personality. However, the tonality took a major shift after a tragic event about halfway through the film. The tone became melancholic as Louis navigated coping with loss. Throughout the film Louis’ artwork morphs and changes to reflect his emotional and mental state. This was captured brilliantly through various cinematic techniques woven together.

The film explores many rich themes including life’s beauty and frailty, profound love, grief and loss, and purpose. The acting in this film was outstanding, the score emphasized and enhanced the tone, and the editing brought everything together in a comprehensive and appealing way. I enjoyed the unique aesthetic style present with the cinematography. The unique letterboxed square approach really centered the actors and allowed the historic feel to shine throughout the run time.

The Conclusion

Overall, the film was an excellent biography of an exceptional, but eccentric man, Louis Wain. The film pays tribute to impact Louis Wain had on society as through his artwork he was able to transform the public's perception of cats.

Louis Wain is indeed inspirational as he captured the beauty and silliness of a creature previously overlooked. Cats and humans will forever be in his debt. If you have a love for cats or are mystified by the connectivity of life, this is a film for you.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain Review at Theater with Standard Viewing during Calgary Film Festival
Screening Provided by Calgary Film

Rating Overall: 8.5