La Belle Noiseuse June 18, 2006
Posted by clydefro in : Modern Films, 1990s , trackback
Jacques Rivette’s La Belle Noiseuse
This is, of course, a mostly thumbnail description of the film’s overarching plot and not entirely indicative of the fascinating and mostly engrossing four hours the viewer spends with these characters. Far from being merely about a artist in search of his lost inspiration, La Belle Noiseuse shows us how a gifted artist works. The tedious and repetitive sketching and drawing of his model becomes enchanting and interesting in Rivette’s film. I never imagined a film so long would completely enthrall me without providing more of a traditional story. Perhaps, though, that’s the key in the film’s success. While many movies try to keep the viewer interested by constantly piling on dramatic developments and storylines, one after the other, Rivette has chosen to show the audience a more subtle and involving interaction between artist and muse. The result is like a fine bottle of wine that you don’t want to drink too fast, instead preferring to savor each small drink. It’s those small drinks that Rivette gives the audience and the result is much more rewarding, for the most part, than the traditional film about a painter where we see a few brushstrokes followed by the final product. I’m not sure I agree with Rivette’s decision to deny the audience a peek at the “La Belle Noiseuse” painting, but it truly sticks to the “it’s the journey, not the destination” theme of the film.
As the aging painter Frenhofer, French actor Michel Piccoli gives a fine performance. Piccoli has had an impressive career, from Godard’s Contempt opposite Brigitte Bardot to Mario Bava’s camp classic Danger: Diabolik and La Belle Noiseuse is a more than worthy addition. His cinematic muse Marianne is played by the beautiful and talented Emmanuelle Béart, probably best known, unfortunately, to American moviegoers as the female lead in Mission: Impossible. In this film, the pair form an artistic and platonic bond that serves as the backbone for the relationship between painter and model. Both actors, despite being familiar faces to fans of international cinema, manage to immerse themselves in their roles so effectively that the audience feels like it’s watching Piccoli truly sketch and paint Béart right before our eyes. (In reality, a painter was brought in for the hand movements and artistic elements, but this never detracts from the film.)
Marianne’s boyfriend and Frenhofer’s wife, who was the original inspiration for the “La Belle Noiseuse” painting, both show jealousy at the time artist and model spend together. Feeling neglected, each has difficulty grasping the importance of what Frenhofer and Marianne are trying to accomplish despite both initially nudging their partner into the situation. As Frenhofer and Marianne struggle to work through their own fears and obstacles, it becomes increasingly clear that their collaboration is exposing more beneath the surface of each than either had expected. Frenhofer must come to terms with his own aging and the realization that he will probably never be able to paint as he once did. Just as he starts to doubt whether he should continue at all, Marianne emerges to push and challenge him. When the final product is finished, however, Frenhofer realizes that what he has painted reveals too much and decides to hide the piece in a wall in his studio so that no one sees it.
La Belle Noiseuse also manages to contradict much of what we have grown to expect out of films. While Béart is both beautiful and fully naked much of the film, there is hardly a shred of eroticism involved. As she models, she’s performing a functional task and there’s never the sense that she’s being ogled by the audience, Frenhofer or Rivette. Furthermore, despite the film’s four hour running time, much of which is devoted to literally watching ink sketching and brush strokes, I was never close to boredom or inattention. The film is truly fascinating and manages to delicately avoid becoming tedious. If you allow yourself to give it the patience it needs, you should not be disappointed.
Comments»
i like this movie. can you sale this movie all over the philippines. so we can watch.