Quills 2000 / The infamous Marquis sets the asylum on fire with his words in a biopic that takes huge liberties

The Marquis de Sade garnered a reputation for his infamously explicit works, so it’s no surprise that his life story would interest filmmakers for adaptation. Quills is one such adaptation, but viewers should take note that writer Doug Wright takes large liberties in adapting it, shifting historical fact to paint de Sade as a champion of freedom of expression, of all the desires that society would have left unfulfilled, but the film also less interested in him rather than the reactions of the young lovers triggered by his words. Director Philip Kaufman matches these ideas with provocative visuals and the cast delivers solid performances, but, all-in-all, Quills is a rather tame depiction of this provocative writer.