Seraphine - the movie.

Saturday evening I watched Seraphine. It is a French movie, with English subtitles. I rented it at Blockbuster – boy, has that business model gone by the wayside! I bet it has been at least 3-5 years since I rented anything there.




From the DVD cover: I’m thinking it is a (relatively) true story. In 1913 a German art collector Wilhelm Uhde, first to buy a Picasso and who discovered Rousseau known as Le Douanier, rents an apartment in Senlis to write and rest. He hires Seraphine as his maid. He notices, sometime, later, a small painting depicted on wood. He is shocked when he learns that he artist is not other than Seraphine. So begins an unsuspected and poignant relationship between the avant-garde art dealer and the visionary maid.



I had seen a review of it in a May/09 issue of the New York Times. It won 7 CESARs, which I gather are the French version of the Oscars. The awards included for best picture and best actress.



I found it to be a sensitive story of Seraphine’s development as an artist, being discovered, the relationship with her patron, dealing with monetary success (unsuccessfully), religion as an inspiration of an artist, and mental illness. They is a touching portrayal of her poverty as she made her own paints and used natural elements and what little money she had, instead of buying food and other necessities of life. She also was inspired by nature, and there are very touching scenes of that.



For those who enjoy “artsy” movies, this one is well worth it.