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IMDbPro

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

  • 2021
  • PG-13
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever. Moving from the late 1800s through to the 1930s, we follow the incredible adventures of this inspiring, unsung hero, as he seeks to unlock the "electrical" mysteries of the world and, in so doing, to better understand his own life and the profound love he shared with his wife Emily Richardson (Claire Foy).
Play trailer2:34
7 Videos
99+ Photos
Period DramaTragedyBiographyDramaHistory

English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.English artist Louis Wain rises to prominence at the end of the 19th century for his surreal cat paintings that seemed to reflect his declining sanity.

  • Director
    • Will Sharpe
  • Writers
    • Simon Stephenson
    • Will Sharpe
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Claire Foy
    • Andrea Riseborough
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson
      • Will Sharpe
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Claire Foy
      • Andrea Riseborough
    • 189User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos7

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:34
    Official Trailer
    First Look Clip
    Clip 1:55
    First Look Clip
    First Look Clip
    Clip 1:55
    First Look Clip
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Prism
    Clip 1:41
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Prism
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Mr. Cat Man
    Clip 1:00
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Mr. Cat Man
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting (UK)
    Clip 1:55
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting (UK)
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting
    Clip 1:55
    The Electrical Life Of Louis Wain: Emily Painting

    Photos104

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    + 97
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    Top cast55

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Louis Wain
    Claire Foy
    Claire Foy
    • Emily Richardson-Wain
    Andrea Riseborough
    Andrea Riseborough
    • Caroline Wain
    Toby Jones
    Toby Jones
    • Sir William Ingram
    Sharon Rooney
    Sharon Rooney
    • Josephine Wain
    Aimee Lou Wood
    Aimee Lou Wood
    • Claire Wain
    Hayley Squires
    Hayley Squires
    • Marie Wain
    Stacy Martin
    Stacy Martin
    • Felicie Wain
    Phoebe Nicholls
    Phoebe Nicholls
    • Mrs. Wain
    Adeel Akhtar
    Adeel Akhtar
    • Dan Rider
    Asim Chaudhry
    Asim Chaudhry
    • Herbert Railton
    Taika Waititi
    Taika Waititi
    • Max Kase
    Crystal Clarke
    Crystal Clarke
    • Alicia Simmonds
    Daniel Rigby
    Daniel Rigby
    • Bendigo
    Richard Ayoade
    Richard Ayoade
    • Henry Wood
    Julian Barratt
    Julian Barratt
    • Dr. Elphick
    Dorothy Atkinson
    Dorothy Atkinson
    • Mrs. DuFrayne
    Nick Cave
    Nick Cave
    • H.G. Wells
    • Director
      • Will Sharpe
    • Writers
      • Simon Stephenson
      • Will Sharpe
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sound of a Theremin can be heard prominently in the soundtrack. Although rarely used these days due to its association with old horror and science fiction films of the 1950s, in the 1920s, the Theremin was considered a revolutionary and new musical instrument and representative of the dawn of the age of electricity. This is in keeping with Louis Wain's view of electricity being the future of life.
    • Goofs
      It is not true to say, as the film claims, that before Louis Wain cats were not kept as pets in Britain. Many famous people were open about having cats as pets throughout the 19th century and before. Notably Edward Lear, Emily Brontë, Horace Walpole, Florence Nightingale, Robert Southey and Queen Victoria to name but a few.
    • Quotes

      Louis Wain: You make the world beautiful and warm and kind. I just wanted to say thank you for that before it's too late.

      Emily Richardson-Wain: I don't make the world beautiful, Louis. The world is beautiful, and you've helped me to see that, too. Just remember - however hard things get, however much you feel like you're struggling, the world is full of beauty. And it's up to you to capture it, Louis. To look and to share it with as many people as you can. You are a prism through which that beam of life refracts.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Graham Norton Show: New Year's Eve Show (2021)

    User reviews189

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10

    Incredibly eccentric drama

    The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is an incredible drama that's funny, extremely emotional and eccentric almost to a fault. A film that's closer to a true heartbreaking tragedy, despite all it's stylish quirks.

    Benedict Cumberbatch adds another terrific lead performance to his already impressive career with a tragic yet loveable character. He also has superb chemistry with Claire Foy, who is great and essential to the emotional core of the film.

    Will Sharpe's direction is fantastic, consistently beautiful in its imagery and effortlessly stylish. The music by Arthur Sharpe is amazing, matching the films tone perfectly by being both painful and inspirational.
    • masonsaul
    • Jan 17, 2022
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 5, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Louis Wain
    • Filming locations
      • Coast House B&B, Deal, Kent, England, UK(Exterior, Bendigo Lodge, conservatory)
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Film4
      • Shoebox Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,509,173
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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