The Electrical Life of Louis Wain Parent Guide

Who knew that cat paintings were popular in Victorian England? Well, they were, and the master of the genre was Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch). Popular though his paintings were, like other artists, he often struggled financially throughout his life.

Fortunately, Wain found comfort in his marriage to Emily Richardson (Claire Foy). Wain met his wife-to-be when she was hired as governess to his younger sisters. Scandalous as it was to marry a governess, the union was rendered more unpalatable by the age difference: the bride was ten years older than the groom. Nonetheless, the couple spent their lives together seeking beauty in the world, even when facing hardship, especially Louis’ ongoing struggle with mental illness.

I had never heard of Louis Wain prior to this biopic, but I must say his paintings are absolutely delightful. Even if you choose not to watch the movie, at least do a quick Google search for his paintings; I guarantee they will brighten your day.

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain is a masterful piece of filmmaking. Each scene is beautifully constructed, utilizing color in powerful ways. Some shots are purposefully altered to look like paintings, which adds even more depth to this visually stunning production. I must make a special mention of the costuming and makeup departments. I have an interest in fashion history, and my favorite decades are the 1880s and 1890s, so I was particularly interested in seeing how the costumes would be done, and they do not disappoint. Aside from being (as far as my untrained eye can tell) historically accurate to the passing decades, the costumes highlight the personalities and social classes of the various characters and contribute to the overall aesthetic of the production. The old age makeup done on Cumberbatch is some of the best I’ve seen in a while, and I applaud the filmmakers for taking that route rather than the almost always disastrous CGI aging path.

As with most decade-spanning historical biopics, the movie can feel a bit slow in parts and relies on character rather than action to drive the story forward. I personally didn’t mind, as I enjoy this genre, but I can understand that some audience members might get a bit bored. For a PG-13 drama, there actually isn’t that much in the way of negative content. There’s quite a bit of smoking and drinking, but that’s accurate to the time period, and there are just under a dozen swear words. However, the slower pace and sensitive subject matter will make this film uninteresting to children. Older teens and adults who enjoy serious drama will appreciate this artfully shot, beautifully told, and masterfully acted look at the life of a man who brought joy to thousands of people.