In 18th century France, when her husband unexpectedly dies, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Clicquot (Haley Bennett) boldly defies societal conventions to take control the fledgling wine business they had nurtured together. Amidst political upheaval and financial uncertainty, the determined Madame Clicquot must defy her critics and navigate a male-dominated world. Against all odds, she revolutionizes the champagne-making process, innovating techniques that would define the industry for generations, cementing the Veuve Clicquot champagne dynasty.

As the titular widow, Haley Bennett’s spirited lead performance as a woman ahead of her time carries this inspirational and visually impressive film. Though it could have been more authentic if the characters spoke French, it’s nevertheless a sparkling film about one of history’s first and most remarkable businesswomen.