The Electrical Life of Louis Wain: Biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch as painter Louis Wain, who became famous for paintings of anthropomorphised cats in the late 19th century.
Film plot and background
Biopic starring Benedict Cumberbatch as painter Louis Wain, who became famous for paintings of humanised cats in the late 19th century.
Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch) discovers his true calling in the late 19th century. A notorious loner, he lives with his mother and five sisters and, as the man of the house, is forced to take a job as an illustrator. The publisher (Toby Jones) of the Illustrated London News is delighted with his idiosyncratic drawings of cats. While his sister Caroline (Andrea Riseborough) urges him to take jobs, he is not yet clear about the paths his life will take from now on.
The family can now afford to hire governess Emily Richardsen (Claire Foy), with whom Wain falls head over heels. Despite the difference in status, they become a couple and marry. As a painter he has ever greater successes, his drawings of humanised cats become a source of inspiration for generations of people.
But setbacks and private hurdles adorn the rest of his life. Despite all problems, he does not let himself be deterred from immortalising his vision on paper.
The trailer gives insights into the biopic with Benedict Cumberbatch:
“The Wondrous World of Louis Wain” – background, cast, cinema release
This biopic about the painter Louis Wain (1860 – 1939) immortalises his surreal images in a film. His comics enjoyed great popularity during the artist’s lifetime, but due to bad contracts Wain was unable to make a financial profit. After the early death of his father in 1880 and his wife in 1887, he also had to look after the welfare of his mother and five sisters. Later in his life, Wain struggled with mental problems, which were increasingly reflected in his paintings.
Directed by Will Sharpe, Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doctor Strange”) brings the surrealist painter’s life to life on screen. His wife is embodied by Claire Foy (“The Crown”). Other stars such as Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones and Adeel Akhtar can also be seen.
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain” will be released on 21 April 2022. The FSK has rated the artist’s biopic from 12 years onwards.
