MOVIE | Renoir: The will to paint, the story of his final muse.
MOVIE | The story behind the creation of "The Bathers," the masterpiece by a giant of Impressionism
Renoir: Intimate Impression – A tale of his final muse
"Renoir: Intimate Impression," a human drama depicting the later years of Impressionist master Renoir, will be released in theaters nationwide starting Friday, October 4th, at TOHO CINEMAS CHANTER and other cinemas.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Filled with light and color like a painting
Renoir, the Impressionist master known as the "painter of happiness," continues to captivate many to this day. This film tells the story behind the creation of his ultimate masterpiece, "The Bathers," and his encounter with his final muse, who appeared before him in his later years as he struggled to create art with hands weakened by illness.
Renoir is portrayed by the acclaimed actor Michel Bouquet, a recipient of the César Award for Best Actor. Andrée, Renoir's final muse and model, is played with ethereal grace by Christa Theret, who is currently one of France's most talked-about actresses.
The film is directed by Gilles Bourdos, who also co-wrote the screenplay, and previously directed "The Message" (based on Guillaume Musso's bestselling novel). The cinematography by Ping Bin Lee, whose work on Wong Kar-wai's films has been highly praised, is also a must-see, creating visuals filled with light and color that evoke Renoir's paintings.
A muse who suddenly appeared before Renoir
1915, Côte d'Azur. Renoir, facing the twilight of his life, was suffering from an illness that made it difficult to hold a paintbrush. Compounding his despair, he had lost his beloved wife and received news that his son Jean had been wounded on the battlefield.
Then one day, a beautiful young woman named Andrée, as if bathed in light, suddenly appeared before Renoir. Andrée, brimming with vitality and radiant beauty, breathed new life into Renoir, who thought he could no longer achieve artistic fulfillment.
Renoir began to paint "The Bathers," which he would later consider his life's greatest work, with Andrée as his model.
This is an emotionally rich story set against the backdrop of the beautiful, natural countryside of the South of France. It depicts the subtle emotional journey of Andrée, a beautiful model who became the muse for both the aging Renoir and his son, Jean Renoir—the future master of French cinema—who returned home to recuperate and struggled with his own future. Along with its visual beauty, the film invites viewers into a world of exquisite light.
Renoir: Intimate Impression
Opening Friday, October 4th, at TOHO CINEMAS CHANTER and other cinemas nationwide.
Director | Gilles Bourdos
Starring | Michel Bouquet, Vincent Rottiers
Distribution | Clockworks, Comstock Group
2012 / France / 111 min / PG12
http://renoir-movie.net/
© 2012 FIDELITE FILMS / WILD BUNCH / MARS FILMS / FRANCE 2 CINEMA