Wain provided cat pictures for a variety of different mediums, including newspaper comic strips, children’s books, and postcards. His love of these animals caused him to contribute to several charities, including the Society for the Protection of Cats.
Needless to say, Wain was a cat lover as well as a talented artist, and if you’re more of a cat person than a dog person, you will probably relate to his love for these animals. Of course, if you do have any cats at home, you will be more likely to find them curled up in a ball instead of standing on their two hind legs while playing poker with the tabbys from your local neighbourhood. Or so we assume!
Despite the fact that you don’t have to be a cat lover to enjoy Will Sharpe’s biographical film, it largely focuses on Louis Wain’s relationship with his family and his often erratic behaviour.
Benedict Cumberbatch delivers a powerhouse performance as the troubled artist Wain in “The Imitation Game.” The film is as playful as the cats depicted in Wain’s works, and is often funny and joyful despite the tragedies that lie within its story. This makes it a delightful watch for anybody wanting to know a little more about Wain and his life story. ..
Wain’s life takes a turn for the worse when he learns that his father had been cheating on his wife with another woman. This new information forces Wain to confront the fact that he is not as successful as he thought he was. He begins to lose hope and feel like his dreams of becoming a famous artist are just a pipe dream. However, through the help of his friends and family, Wain finds a way to continue making art even in difficult times. Ultimately, Wain’s story is one of perseverance and determination, despite the obstacles in his way.
Wain’s wife, Emily Richardson, encouraged him to pursue his creative interests and helped him become an artist.
Despite an initially frosty beginning, Wain and Richardson fall in love, and the two move into the country together where he takes on additional work as a freelance artist. When a stray cat walks into his garden, he and Emily decide to keep it as a pet (a practice that was quite unusual in the Victorian era) and it becomes the inspiration for the pictures that he would later create.
Wain’s life was full of struggles, but the film never becomes overly maudlin despite the struggles that Wain faced late in his life. The film instead takes the occasional turn into his dark reality to counterbalance the rest of the film, which is rather whimsical in nature.
This film is about a man who went through some very difficult times, but he never lets his troubles get in the way of his creative work. The director is respectful of Wain and the troubles he went through, but he focuses more on the unconventional nature of his character than the mental illness that eventually blighted his life. This is more of an uplifting tale than a sad one, and even at the end of the film, when Wain has been placed in some kind of institution, there seems to be hope for the man who gave joy to many through his fanciful cat drawings.
There are some who question Sharpe’s choice to remain upbeat within his telling of the artist’s story, but he made a sensible decision. Wain delighted many people with his artwork so it’s quite fitting that this film should be equally as delightful. There is still room for the tragedies that marked Wain’s life, but as he was a rather unconventional character, it’s right that the film should go against conventions too.
This beautifully made film features stunning cinematography, a wonderful score, and outstanding performances from its ensemble cast, including Andrea Riseborough who gives a standout turn as Wain’s rigid but slightly loopy sister. It’s a compassionate look at a talented man, and whether you’re a cat person or not, you should have a good time with this one. ..
