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What's After the Movie?
Biographical drama

Quills (2000): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Quills (2000) movie poster

Quills is a 2000 biographical drama directed by Philip Kaufman, starring Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix and Kate Winslet. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $18 million worldwide. It was nominated for 3 Oscars. Critics gave it 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
worldwide gross
$18M
award nominations
9
Metascore
70
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Quills (2000) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 4m (124 min)
Director
Philip Kaufman
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Quills About?

The premise of Quills without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 18th-century France, the imprisoned and notorious writer Marquis de Sade finds refuge in writing and forbidden relationships within the walls of an asylum. He develops complex connections with the facility’s director and a laundress, finding unexpected companionship amidst the harsh conditions. Despite the oppressive constraints of the era and the institution's attempts to control him, the Marquis continues to challenge societal norms and express his controversial ideas through his writing.

Quills Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • spousal rape
  • sex degenerate
  • sexual deviant
  • hands tied behind back
  • prisoner
  • burned with an iron
  • male full frontal nudity
  • lust
  • attempted rape
  • rape
  • female full frontal nudity
  • female nudity
+38 more
  • male pubic hair
  • adultery
  • pubic hair
  • homoeroticism
  • masked executioner
  • robbing the dead
  • public execution
  • reading aloud
  • multiple sex positions
  • hand over mouth
  • writing in blood
  • man undresses
  • woman whipped in public
  • pyromaniac
  • iron maiden
  • writing with feces
  • insanity
  • marquis
  • sex scene
  • marquis de sade character
  • woman tied up
  • guillotine
  • tied up
  • male nudity
  • sexual perversion
  • insane asylum
  • writing
  • slapped in the face
  • executioner
  • sadomasochism
  • humiliation
  • domination
  • depravity
  • virgin
  • pornography
  • excrement
  • sadism
  • cruelty
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Cast & crew

Quills Cast

Geoffrey Rush leads the cast, with Joaquin Phoenix and Kate Winslet. Directed by Philip Kaufman; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Philip Kaufman

More films directed by Philip Kaufman, best-rated first: The Right Stuff, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Unbearable Lightness of Being and The Wanderers.

Full filmography
Ratings

Quills Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Quills 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

Plot

Quills Plot Summary

What happens in Quills from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Quills opens amidst the chaos of the Reign of Terror, where the imprisoned Marquis de Sade (played by Geoffrey Rush) is deeply engrossed in crafting a provocative narrative about the debauched Mademoiselle Renare. This aristocrat finds herself entangled with her sadistic executioner. Fast forward several years, the Marquis finds himself confined within the walls of the Charenton asylum, under the watchful eye of the enlightened Abbé du Coulmier (portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix). Here, the Marquis cleverly disseminates his writings through the laundress, Madeleine “Maddy” LeClerc (played by Kate Winslet), who covertly transmits his manuscripts, using a mysterious horseman as her courier to reach the publisher.

Full summary

The whole story of Quills, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Quills Box Office

Quills grossed $18 million worldwide. $7.1 million came from the US and Canada and $10.9 million (61%) from the rest of the world.

2000 box office

Worldwide gross

$18M

US & Canada
$7.1M
International
$10.9M
US & Canada 39% Rest of the world 61%
Awards

Quills Awards & Nominations

Quills was nominated for 3 Oscars. The 9 nominations come from 3 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 2001.

9 nominations3 ceremonies

  • British Academy Film Awards logo
    BAFTA 2001 4 nominations
    • Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Geoffrey Rush
    • Nominated Best Costume Design
    • Nominated Best Makeup and Hair
    • Nominated Best Production Design
  • Academy Awards (Oscars) logo
    Oscars 2001 3 nominations
    • Nominated Actor in a Leading Role – Geoffrey Rush
    • Nominated Art Direction
    • Nominated Costume Design
    • Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Kate Winslet
    • Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role – Geoffrey Rush
Videos

Quills Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Quills.

The Quills Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Quills?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of the Marquis de Sade?

Details

Quills Also Known As

24 alternative titles, including “Перо маркиза де Сада” and “鵝毛筆”.

Also known as
  • Перо маркиза де Сада
  • 鵝毛筆
  • Quills - Macht der Besessenheit
  • Quills - La penna dello scandalo
  • Quills : La plume et le sang
  • 鹅毛笔
  • Sade márki játékai
  • Quills - As Penas do Desejo
  • עת הסקנדל
  • Contos Proibidos do Marquês de Sade
  • クイルズ
  • Düşlerin Efendisi
+12 more
  • Историята на маркиз дьо Сад
  • Quills – Perem markýze de Sade
  • 퀼스
  • Пір’я маркіза де Сада
  • Quills, η πένα της αμαρτίας
  • Letras prohibidas, la leyenda del Marqués de Sade
  • Skandalingoji Plunksna
  • Zatrute pióro
  • Quills - syntiset säkeet
  • Quills - Perom markíza de Sade
  • นิยายโลกีย์ กวีฉาวโลก
  • Penele

Seen Quills?

FAQ

Quills FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Quills, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Quills?

Quills runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).

When was Quills released?

Quills was released on November 22, 2000.

Who directed Quills?

Quills was directed by Philip Kaufman.

More films by Philip Kaufman

Who is in the cast of Quills?

Quills stars Geoffrey Rush, Joaquin Phoenix and Kate Winslet, among 4 credited actors.

How much did Quills make at the box office?

Quills grossed $18 million worldwide ($7.1 million domestic, $10.9 million international).

How is Quills rated?

Quills has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 70 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Was Quills nominated for any awards?

Quills received 9 nominations across 3 ceremonies.

Does Quills have a post-credit scene?

No. Quills has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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