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Quills

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Quills

R

Released Dec 15, 2000

2h 3m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

126 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A fictional work that reconstructs the unknown fate of the Marquis de Sade, the writer and sexual deviant who was imprisoned in an insane asylum for the last 10 years of his life. The Marquis de Sade befriends the director of the asylum and shares affections with the asylum laundress. When a doctor is sent in to cure the Marquis of his supposed madness, the Marquis's rebellious character only grows stronger.

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Critics Consensus

Though hard to watch, this film's disturbing exploration of freedom of expression is both seductive and thought-provoking.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

A literate, playfully provocative defense of free speech at its most abominable, Philip Kaufman and Doug Wright's movie impudently positions the Marquis de Sade as the twisted spokesman for the creative spirit.

Mar 6, 2018

Full Review

Jeremy Gerard

Variety

"Quills" is sensational in every sense of the word.

Feb 23, 2012

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Derek Adams

Time Out

It pokes at sexual taboos - it's pretty subversive, considering - but sexuality and creativity are indelibly linked, and its true subject is expression, repression and catharsis.

Jun 24, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Kaufman's biopic of the notorious Marquis de Sade is sharply uneven, serious, poignant, trashy, sleazy and sensationslist, marred by over-the-top turn from Geoffrey Rush.

Rated: C+

Feb 8, 2011

Full Review

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

a conceptual piece about the nature of creativity and questions of art

Rated: B

Jun 7, 2010

Full Review

Hollywood.com

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2008

Full Review

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D A N I Î L

Perturbing, hilarious, seductive. Great acting! It's simply an excellent film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/02/23

Full Review

J K

Underrated. We need a blu ray version as well!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/23

Full Review

Thomas M

The best filmmaking debut ever from Doug Wright!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/25/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Exceptional acting, particularly Geoffrey Rush populating a film that is literate, erotic, and yearning to be heard. The message is that we are all expressions of natures and to live most successfully we must understand that.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's more erotic than any erotic movies you've seen so far. The sadist in SM is so perverted that it originated from the word "Marquis of Sadi". Had he met a masochist, he would have enjoyed enormous erotic kinky sex.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

steve d

Sometimes a tough watch but well worth it especially for Rush's scary performance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Philip Kaufman

Director

Geoffrey Rush

The Marquis de Sade

Kate Winslet

Madeleine

Joaquin Phoenix

Coulmier

Michael Caine

Dr. Royer-Collard

Billie Whitelaw

Madame LeClerc

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Synopsis

A fictional work that reconstructs the unknown fate of the Marquis de Sade, the writer and sexual deviant who was imprisoned in an insane asylum for the last 10 years of his life. The Marquis de Sade befriends the director of the asylum and shares affections with the asylum laundress. When a doctor is sent in to cure the Marquis of his supposed madness, the Marquis's rebellious character only grows stronger.

Director: Philip Kaufman
Producer: Julia Chasman, Peter Kaufman, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter: Doug Wright, Doug Wright
Distributor: Fox
Production Co: Industry Entertainment, Fox Searchlight, Walrus & Associates, Hollywood Partners
Rating: R (Strong Sexual Content|Language|Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.1M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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