WIDOW CLICQUOT | Champagne Gala Preview

Following the success of the 2024 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival, the inspiring true story of the "Grande Dame of Champagne", Widow Clicquot, returns to Palace. See it first at our exclusive Champagne Gala Preview and receive a complimentary taste of the real thing, a glass of Veuve Clicquot, upon arrival!

Based on the true story behind the Veuve Clicquot champagne family and business, Widow Clicquot follows Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (1777–1866) who, at the age of 20, became Madame Clicquot after marrying poetic, unconventional François, the heir of a winemaking family. 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 irregularity 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.

Retelling the tale in retrospect over a 10-year span from approximately 1797 to 1807, BAFTA-nominated director Thomas Napper entwines a sparkling story of flourishing female entrepreneurship with an account of doomed lovers whose legacy reverberates in the bubbles. A rousing toast to the perseverance of unshakeable women.

Event Details:
Wednesday, February 5 | Check preferred venue for specific times.

Pricing:
Palace Movie Club: $39
General Admission: $45