'The Electrical Life of Louis Wain' Is the Cat's Meow at the Virtual KCET Cinema Series on Oct. 14
Q&A immediately following screening with director Will Sharpe.
The true story of forgotten English artist Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch) who rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his extraordinary paintings of cats. Wain is a brilliant but troubled man who becomes entranced by the family’s governess, Emily Richardson (Claire Foy), and by the "electrical" mysteries of existence.
Louis Wain is "a quiet hero," says Benedict Cumberbatch. "Somebody who, in a very loud world, stayed true to who he was and it cost him a lot, whether it was marrying outside of his class or making very bold associations with the animals he was painting and anthropomorphizing them and popularizing them, but he did it with such love, and grace, and humility, and tirelessness. His work rate was phenomenal, despite his mental illness and despite the vagaries of the time, and not being able to adapt to the way he saw the world."
Immediately following the screening, Deadline’s chief film critic Pete Hammond, who can also be seen on KCET’s Must See Movies, will moderate a Q&A with director Will Sharpe.
The film screens on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. PDT. Only $10 per viewing link. Limited space available.