(7½) CHERI with Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates and Felicity Jones. Directed by Stephen Frears (Uptown Theatres).

THIS drama, adapted from novels by Colette, takes place in France during the “Belle Epoque”, just before the beginning of the First World War, a period marked by a growing awareness of class differences, the modernisation of the arts and major breakthroughs in technology and science.

In Paris, the beautiful courtesan, Lea de Lonval (Michelle Pfeiffer), is at the end of her career as a successful mistress. On a visit to a retired colleague, Charlotte Peloux (Kathy Bates), Lea is asked to teach her son – whom she has known from a very young age – how to treat a woman properly. Without much resistance she agrees to take Fred (Rupert Friend), whom she has nicknamed Cheri, under her wing to “educate” him.

An intimate six years go by and their love for each other grows more deeply every day. Covertly, Charlotte arranges for Fred to marry the virginal Edmee (Felicity Jones). What seemed to have been a casual relationship to Lea and Cheri, becomes a devastating separation. Months after being , separated their passion reawakess when Cheri shows up at Lea’s place.

The situation becomes profoundly emotional and leads to a dramatic interaction between the characters involved in this love-affair dilemma.

Cheri is an extremely intense and dramatic tale and the on-screen passion between Pfeiffer and Friend. is highly creditable.

The humour is very subtle and tongue-in-cheek, but an attentive viewer will find it extremely funny.

Frears successfully portrays the Belle Epoque – from costume design to the finer details such as a perfume bottle. The cinematography is great and the way it is used with sound and scenery to evoke a particular emotion is superb. – Reviewed by Lana Breedt breedtl@avusa.co.za