Seraphine (花開花落): Ecstasy Vs Realism
Yesterday I saw this unusual movie – Seraphine, directed by Martin Provost. Why unusual? – maybe unusual just in the eyes of Hong Kong people (heard people said its pace is too slow, there is no “great” story, 3D effects or even “pretty” sceneries or actress / actor). After all, it has won 7 Caesars – French Oscars!!!
The life of L. Seraphine of Senlis - the painter was a very difficult one (played by Yolande Moreau). Her lowly means of life as a servant could only earn herself very basic life essentials but she painted as if there was a need and vocation pouring out from her soul. She was self-taught, so called a Visionary artist of naïve style. Painting in absolute solitude chanting to herself, her passionate colorful pictures, sometimes huge in dimensions were inspired directly from nature and the stained glasses of churches.
Fortunately she was able to make her name known for a while through patronage of the German art collector Wilhelm Uhde though the latter did lose contact with her due to the First world war. Support was also halted in 1929 when the Great Depression set into Europe. While her inspired spirit was soon distanced from her supporter and disconnected with real life so full of mundane, she turned into a mentally cripple. She was taken to the Hospital in Clermont since 1932 where she died in 1942.
While modern life as happening now – some 100 years after the days of Seraphine, has emphasized the perfection and technicalities of the professionals: the doctor, the lawyer, the engineer, the businessmen, the chef, the musician, the artist etc etc etc, how many genius are being unrecognized just because they have to manage their everyday life and not admitted the “right school”? How many natural and great thoughts and ideas are unexposed, just because they don’t have a chance to be developed and discussed?
When you are really going for this film, be prepared for the pace akin to the natural 19th century French countryside, the simple story, and the startling paintings that make you start wondering or even chanting!
Yesterday I saw this unusual movie – Seraphine, directed by Martin Provost. Why unusual? – maybe unusual just in the eyes of Hong Kong people (heard people said its pace is too slow, there is no “great” story, 3D effects or even “pretty” sceneries or actress / actor). After all, it has won 7 Caesars – French Oscars!!!
The life of L. Seraphine of Senlis - the painter was a very difficult one (played by Yolande Moreau). Her lowly means of life as a servant could only earn herself very basic life essentials but she painted as if there was a need and vocation pouring out from her soul. She was self-taught, so called a Visionary artist of naïve style. Painting in absolute solitude chanting to herself, her passionate colorful pictures, sometimes huge in dimensions were inspired directly from nature and the stained glasses of churches.
Fortunately she was able to make her name known for a while through patronage of the German art collector Wilhelm Uhde though the latter did lose contact with her due to the First world war. Support was also halted in 1929 when the Great Depression set into Europe. While her inspired spirit was soon distanced from her supporter and disconnected with real life so full of mundane, she turned into a mentally cripple. She was taken to the Hospital in Clermont since 1932 where she died in 1942.
While modern life as happening now – some 100 years after the days of Seraphine, has emphasized the perfection and technicalities of the professionals: the doctor, the lawyer, the engineer, the businessmen, the chef, the musician, the artist etc etc etc, how many genius are being unrecognized just because they have to manage their everyday life and not admitted the “right school”? How many natural and great thoughts and ideas are unexposed, just because they don’t have a chance to be developed and discussed?
When you are really going for this film, be prepared for the pace akin to the natural 19th century French countryside, the simple story, and the startling paintings that make you start wondering or even chanting!
Michael 5pm 7.2.09
Acknowledgement: http://dithob.blogspot.com/2009/07/seraphine-louis-de-senlis-reflection-of.html
