In the trailer of historical biopic Colette, a forthright woman is determined to be recognised for her literary acumen. Directed by Wash Westmoreland, the drama chronicles the life of Nobel Prize-nominated French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley).

Country woman Colette marries writer Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West) and moves to Paris. She is convinced by her husband to ghostwrite a series of novels to be published under his pen name Willy. But Colette becomes increasingly frustrated when she is denied recognition for her immensely popular Claudine series. “The hand that holds the pen writes history,” she says in the trailer, as she attempts to rise above her husband’s shadowy presence in her life, and reclaim her literary work. The cast includes Aiysha Hart, Fiona Shaw, Denise Gough and Rebecca Root.

Colette was premiered earlier in January at the Sundance Film Festival. It will be released in the United States of America on September 21.