As part of its Behind the Screen series, the West Newton Cinema Foundation will present a screening of Widow Clicquot followed followed by a dynamic panel discussion featuring French and film history scholars and expert wine crafters, educators, and reviewers. The event takes place at the West Newton Cinema (1292 Washington Street, West Newton) on July 25, with the screening at 6:30PM and discussion at 8PM. Tickets can be purchased here. Proceeds support the WNCF’s efforts to preserve this beloved local theater.
Widow Clicquot is a romantic biopic that dives into the origins of champagne empire Veuve Clicquot, telling the story of Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot, who assumes leadership of her family’s vineyard after her husband’s death. Navigating both the challenges of being a businesswoman in 1800s France and the fraught political situation under Napoleon’s rule, Clicquot triumphs, leaving a mark on the champagne industry still felt today.
After the screening, these panelists will discuss the historical context of the film, wine craftsmanship, and the unique properties of champagne!
Jacquelyn Groeper is a Certified Specialist of Wine and core instructor in Boston University’s Wine Studies Program. She studied winemaking at the University of California Davis and received a Certificate of Enology and a Certificate of Viticulture from Washington State University. As the former winemaker and co-owner of Artis Winery, Jacquelyn crafted award-winning wines, most notably a silver medal in the 2020 International Women’s Wine Competition for her 2018 Nero d’Avola. Jacquelyn is currently a candidate in the Master of Wine Programme.
Robert Lublin is a Professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Massachusetts Boston and was formerly Chair of the Performing Arts Department. He specializes in dramatic literature and theater history and historiography, and he has written books and articles that range in focus from Shakespeare to feminist pedagogy to film history. Robert teaches wine appreciation courses around Greater Boston, including through Newton Community Education. He also writes wine and spirits reviews for Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.
Michael Randall is a Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Brandeis University. He specializes in late medieval and Renaissance culture in France. He teaches courses on a variety of topics concerning French society, from literature and politics to the notion of love to Francophone detective novels.
Kim Simone is the Manager of the Commonwealth Wine School, where she is also one of the WSET instructors as well as the beer and Champagne educator. She was formerly the Corporate Sommelier for the Legal Seafoods restaurant group, has sold wine for Martignetti Company and Ruby Wines, and ran a wine consultancy for retailers and wineries. She co-hosts the radio show and podcast The Wonderful World of Wine, which has been nominated for a People’s Choice Podcast Award five times. Kim is the recipient of numerous wine and beer certifications and accolades, including the distinction of both French Wine Scholar and Spanish Wine Scholar with Highest Honors, as well as being one of the first official Champagne Specialists designated by the Comité Champagne in the United States.
