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Quills

Play trailer Poster for Quills R 2000 2h 3m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 117 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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Quills

Quills

What to Know

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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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek Mar 6, 2018
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. Go to Full Review Jeremy Gerard Variety Feb 23, 2012
"Quills" is sensational in every sense of the word. Go to Full Review Derek Adams Time Out Jun 24, 2006
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. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Feb 8, 2011
C+
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. Go to Full Review John A. Nesbit Old School Reviews Jun 7, 2010
B
a conceptual piece about the nature of creativity and questions of art Go to Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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SIMAS C @simas_eros 3 days ago An incredible film about the most striking figure in the literary and philosophical erotica of Western history. Featuring excellent direction and performances, it follows the final days of the infamous Marquis de Sade as he fights for freedom of expression and thought against hypocrisy and censorship—at a time when both words and heads could be severed by the guillotine. A magnificent screenplay that captures an epic personal story and an equally epic body of thought. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Sep 4, 2026 An interesting period piece. See more D A N I Ξ L @dhdez87 Dec 2, 2023 Perturbing, hilarious, seductive. Great acting! It's simply an excellent film. See more J K @RT45085245 Sep 6, 2023 Underrated. We need a blu ray version as well!! See more Thomas M @TMProofreader Nov 25, 2022 The best filmmaking debut ever from Doug Wright! See more michael d @RT16138633 Dec 3, 2021 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. See more Read all reviews
Quills

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Cast & Crew

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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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Quills

Quills (2000) Quills (2000) Quills (2000) Quills (2000) Quills (2000) Joaquin Phoenix as Abbé Coulmier in "Quills" directed by Philip Kaufman. Kate Winslet as Madeleine and Joaquin Phoenix as Abbé Coulmier in "Quills" directed by Philip Kaufman. Joaquin Phoenix as Abbé Coulmier and Kate Winslet as Madeleine in "Quills" directed by Philip Kaufman. View more photos

Movie Info

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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