Sedona News – The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the Northern Arizona premiere of “Widow Clicquot” showing July 19-25 at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres.
“Widow Clicquot” is based on the true story of the “Grande Dame of Champagne,” Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (1777-1866) who — at the age of 20 — became Madame Clicquot after marrying the scion of a winemaking family.
Though their marriage was arranged, a timeless love blossomed between Barbe-Nicole (Haley Bennett) and her poetic, unconventional, and erratic husband, François (Tom Sturridge).
In the weeds after her spouse’s untimely death, and now a mother to Clémentine, Barbe-Nicole is still enamored and enthralled with François’ avant-garde experiments. Named Veuve (the French word for widow) at age 27, she is determined to protect her family’s legacy and boldly challenge the men — as well as the state — set on stripping her of her vineyards.
Determined to advance her husband’s theories about soil chemistry, the configuring of vines, and revolutionary techniques in bottling, Barbe-Nicole wagers on the next harvest and her own blend of sparkling wine. Challenged by the capriciousness of the seasons, the aggressive competitor Monsieur Moët, and the Napoleonic Code of 1804 barring women from running businesses, the elegant and luminous widow must succeed or lose everything.
“Haley Bennett is a wonder as the ‘Grande Dame of Champagne’ herself.” — Collider
“Widow Clicquot” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher and Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatres July 19-25. Showtimes will be Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 19, 23 and 24 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and Monday, July 20, 21 and 22 at 4:00 p.m.; and Thursday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.