THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN Cinema Intro + Q&A | TIFF 2021

The team behind THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN in conversation with TIFF following its premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. An eccentric artist (Benedict Cumberbatch) introduces Victorian London to the delights of cats, in Will Sharpe’s enlightening biopic.
The 46th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 9 to 18, 2021. For more, visit tiff.net.
From Ancient Egypt to TikTok, cats have accompanied humans on life’s journey. But who made the creatures cute? THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN tells the story of the Victorian-era artist whose widely published drawings of anthropomorphized cats transformed them from mysterious to irresistible. In a dazzling, career-best performance, Benedict Cumberbatch plays one of Britain’s most influential eccentrics as a flurry of wild ideas and prodigious artistic output.
Louis Wain (Cumberbatch, also at the Festival in THE POWER OF THE DOG) brims with creativity, even as his life in the 1880s oscillates between the delightful and the dizzying. To support his widowed mother and five younger sisters, the academy-trained artist sells drawings of animals from the country fair. His skilled and speedy portraiture impresses, but his often stormy view of the world and those in it keeps him from engaging much with society. That is, until he hires a kind, curious governess for his youngest sisters, Emily Richardson (Claire Foy), who illuminates his life in a way even he’d never imagined. Love blooms across the class divide - albeit to the chagrin of Louis’s stern sister Caroline (Andrea Riseborough), second oldest and second in command.
Writer-director Will Sharpe (television’s Flowers, whose co-star Olivia Colman narrates here) uses dynamic visual technique and colourfully shifting mood to convey Louis’s complicated mind, fickle wealth, momentous love, and consuming grief. Cumberbatch’s transcendent performance stands at the centre of an impressive cast that includes Toby Jones and Adeel Akhtar (also at the Festival in ALI & AVA). Alive with imagination in every scene, THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN shows just how we came to live in a cat’s world.
Will Sharpe is a Japanese British actor, writer, and director. He is a veteran of Cambridge’s Footlights and the Royal Shakespeare Company. With Tom Kingsley he co-directed the feature Black Pond (10), which received a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut. The pair also co-directed The Darkest Universe (16), and Sharpe created, wrote, and directed the Channel 4 series Flowers (16-18). The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (21) is his latest film.

[@anditobin]

Benedict Cumberbatch's approach to, love of, and respect for his craft and characters shows in his tremendous ability making you a believer. He's been my favorite for 10+ years. I'll never tire of experiencing anything he does.

[@anditobin]

... and it's a wonderful plus his sincerity as a humanitarian, his personal likeability and his (sometimes loony) sense of humor is there , shared with everyone.

[@Nomoredrama2000]

I love the fact that he talks about his father not speaking after the film because he was so moved. 🥺❤️💓

[@aisha02a]

benedict is WORKING working holy crap!!!

[@Annapurna818]

Odd how many of the films I watched this year touched on .the theme of neurodiversity. Thank you for this film.

[@violetviolet888]

What are the film titles?

[@shirleynitka5030]

I remember seeing Benedict in an interview a few years back & he said he was a dog person. Glad he has embraced the cat whole heartedly. OK so Ben wants to be followed around with a basket of treats for every good performance he gives. Sure why not? He deserves as much & more. xo He's jealous that the cats have stand ins. He wants one who looks just like him & can do his work for a bit. haha You are not replaceable Benedict, thank God!

[@ivan00001983]

I was a dog person for years and then I became cat-dog-and-others person, cats are wonderful and through them I learned all species have emotions and friendship. Cats have their way, they are not dogs nor trying to copy dogs, they are magnificent in their own special way.

[@shobhakumari6523]

Great Amazingly Talented Actor🙏.

[@Annapurna818]

Cat lady loved this film.

[@tatortot5516]

I can not wait to read and watch literally everything on this man

[@gnownay612]

I just watched this movie today. I am not a cat person nor a fan of Louis Wain(I never heard of him before this movie), yet it's a very touching and warm movie that I would like to search more information about this artist and enjoy his works. Thank you for making this movie

[@ponderingprachiti]

yeah i share your sentiment unfortunately i was not able to find much things written about him.

[@cottillard]

benedict speaks so well

[@Artzenflowers]

Such a beautiful testament to a tragically gifted man. Absolutely feel in love with the man and the art! Thanks to you all.

[@clarissagafoor5222]

Will Sharp was in one of the episodes of Sherlock with Benadict Cumberbatch, many, many years ago.

[@scarrillo232]

17:20 Benedict says he’s recently been shouting as Doctor Strange!

[@Fox1nDen]

so true, hard not to envy the charmed lives of respected cats.... what helps me much lately is, I hear again something my favorite nurse said to me while i was his patient. He would say "hug yourself." Dear Benny, go ahead and hug yourself often. Especially when you feel envious of acting cats.

[@ivan00001983]

Wonderful! Sheding real light on Louis! Thank you so very much. You showed Louis and his artwork for what he really was, a wonderful, creative artist who brought joy to millions and above all a wonderful human being, innocent, kind and empathetic.

[@format_uknown9257]

Beautiful movie, with great actoirs, thankyou. one of the best movies. Ive seen for awhile.

[@ritzjoyjose1514]

all the trauma came back at 22:52, he had a 3secs summary of his misery with cats XD

[@isabeaust.claire4815]

Merci

[@drendelous]

Will is so buffed here. Lotus was filmed at that time I reckon

[@marishajames3581]

He look so much like Paul Bettany ( I hope spelled that right)

[@helenpatterson3858]

Where do I find this film ? I can't wait ! ! ! Edit: OMG ! Thank you !

[@Design_dogg]

Good

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

This is he, this is he

[@blithespirit7839]

Gotta love the demographics and student types in Oliver peoples glasses and badly fitting semi suits with t shirts. Genuinly lovely listening to Camembert.

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

Take me most seriously boy. Thou shall not tread on me again

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

People willfully rather treasure and remember the dog. If my words were to go on as merely barking. I'm proud to truly be a Sheppard. And sorry that humans still channel sheep.

[@Foss-px3pg]

I do wish that people, even when they genuinely like cats, feel that they have to verge on denigrating them, say things that seem to highlight all the stereotypical views of cats, and make slightly dismissive comments about them to get laughs. Having worked with a couple of animal rescue groups, I can attest to their second--rate status, and worse - the attitude that cats are fair game for teasing, neglect, abuse, and cruelty. I would have expected better from Sharp and Cumberbatch in navigating those waters. They have a tremendous platform for good, and for opening people's minds to not only tolerate other people's foibles, but to allow animals to be themselves and live without fear.

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

He in fact forced extracted. Unlike not by chance

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

I'm Will

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

I'm not dead

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

The project was stolen from me

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

I am a living person

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

I continue to choose love

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

I have an actual name as well

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

This man "Passes" as a distraction?

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

Animals?

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

Because you lied to me to me, you lied to

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

I am no company

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

You are not entitled anymore.

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

No more like a Lion, than Bens red dragon skeleton in the closet

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

"You are a cheat"

[@phylipitaglioni1970]

Beauty cannot have a foundation of horse shit

[@blancaestelarivera3711]

Benediiiiiict!!!! 😀