‘Séraphine’ Sweeps French Film Awards

New York Times ^ | March 2, 2009 | PATRICIA COHEN

[Cincinna]

The French film “Séraphine” won its country’s top film honors Friday, receiving seven Césars, awards akin to the Oscars, The Associated Press reported. Directed by Martin Provost, the film is based on the life of the early 20th-century painter Séraphine of Senlis, who was played by Yolande Moreau, above with Mr. Provost. She was named best actress. “Séraphine” will be shown this weekend at Lincoln Center as part of the Rendez-Vous With French Cinema series.

Dustin Hoffman, 71, received a special César, just a day after he was named an honorary commander in the National Order of Arts and Letters in France. “I never learned how to bow," Mr. Hoffman said as he accepted the award, adding that only acting made him feel sure of himself. He declared before leaving the stage, “I ain’t finished yet.”

[americanophile]

News? A French film about a French painter winning a French film award. Fascinating.

[Cincinna]

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I am looking forward to seeing this film. This is the kind of film, like Camille Claudel starring Isabel Adjani, or The Story of Adele H, that the French do so beautifully.

Séraphine de Senlis, whose real name was Serafine Louis, was a humble cleaning lady consumed by her passion to paint. The film was made in the medieval town of Senlis, famed for its magnificent Gothic cathedral It was in the village of Senlis, where the German aesthete and collector Wilhelm Uhde discovered the great talent and the personality of the woman who cleaned his house. Uhde was stupified by the power and the intensity which emanate from her floral compositions.

Serafine died in 1942

[SunkenCiv]

Nice! Thanks Cincinna.

[Cincinna]

You’re welcome!

I’m hoping it will be out on DVD very soon, with subtitles for those who don’t have a movie in their town that shows foreign films, and who don’t speak French.

I haven’t seen it yet myself, but look forward to.

[avenir]

"This is the kind of film, like Camille Claudel starring Isabel Adjani, or The Story of Adele H, that the French do so beautifully."

They do cinema beautifully, period. On the other end of the spectrum are French gangster films from the 60's. I watched this one from Melville over the weekend and like so many of the great directors his "worst" films blow away pretty much everything we're offered today, IMO.

[dfwgator]

What award did Jerry Lewis win?

[warsaw44]

I'm looking forward to renting this film. Self taught art is a genre I dearly love.
One without much of the BS you'll find in contemporary art.

[Cincinna]

I love French movies of the 60’s. Even a modern gangster type movie like “Les Ripoux” which is really a comedy.

True, they don’t make movies like they used to, but then again, who does?