It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that relationships that defy society’s conventions are distinctly modern. But, though terminology and public awareness certainly evolve, questioning the norms of sex and gender is not just a 21st century phenomenon. For proof, look no further than the French author Colette, one of the early 20th century’s most famous writers and the subject of an eponymous biopic opening Friday. Today’s audiences may know her name from her best-known work, the novella Gigi, which was made into a 1951 Broadway musical starring a pre-fame Audrey Hepburn — who was discovered by the author herself — and then an Oscar-winning 1958 film.