The Chaperone
I was unsure about seeing a film about a young girl and her chaperone going on a trip to New York.
Thankfully, ‘The Chaperone’ is a much more profound film than the official trailer suggests.
A day later, I am still thinking about the film’s many themes.
Louise Brooks
The film is a screenplay of a 2012 novel, of the same name, by Laura Moriarty.
It loosely tells the early story of flapper era film star and socialite Louise Brooks
Hayley Lu Richardson as Louise Brooks
In ‘The Chaperone’ Louise is played by Hayley Lu Richardson, who bears a striking resemblance to her.
We meet Louise as a rebellious and naughty 15 year old promising dancer from Wichita Kansas.
Louise with chaperone Laura
Accompanied by Norma, a middle aged chaperone, (played by Elizabeth McGovern), Louise travels to New York City to study dance at the Denishawn school.
Ruth St.Denis
Miranda Kerr
The school was set up in 2015 and continued to be run by Ruth St.Denis, played by Miranda Otto.
Louise knew how to attract men
Flirtatious and attractive, Louise drew much male attention. She frustrates Norma’s attempts to impose morally conservative views and behaviour on her. This battle of wills is presented in a number of naturally humorous scenes.
Campbell Scott as Laura’s Husband, Alan
Norma also sets about pursuing a personal mission. A mission that her husband had urged her not to pursue.
The New York City scenes are glorious in portraying the style and fashions of the ‘Gatsby Era’. They also permit us to learn more about Norma than the more predictable Louise. While Louise takes steps to become what she has always wanted to be. Norma falls in love with Joseph (played by Géza Röhrig)
Joseph
He is a truly kind man who, remarkably, is not bitter despite a number of personal tragedies.
If you manage to avoid spoiler reviews, you will enjoy discovering why and how Louise and, to a far greater extent, Norma are the products of their past.
The only thing I’d like to say about the remainder of the plot is that the revelations are significant and largely unexpected. They become the main focus of the film, dwarfing the chaperoning, and the flirtatious Louise.
So many films seem to run out of ideas after the first hour. The Chaperone, on the other hand, moves from strength to strength.
A satisfying experience, very well acted and thankfully not a lightweight period costume drama.
