The Artist and the Model (2013)

One of my all time favorites.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

The Artist and the Model (2012)This is a movie, a poem, about the existence of beauty and meaning in art, and in the life of an artist. in France during WWILThis is an impossible subject for any movie—it demands too much be spelled out. The more obtuse, abstract, and indirect it is the better. Luckily that's where this movie tries to go. Where it fails is when it specifies its ideas. It sometimes states its wisdom. There is another better movie somewhere—not yet made—that could touch these ideas and imbue them with fullness without making it concrete. That one is the masterpiece.In a way the fact I'm talking about this is proof that something happens here. It's a gorgeous, thoughtful movie. The old—very old—sculptor finds a young—very young— model and seems to come to life again. And in his work in these last years he finds something deep and lasting, or seemingly so. The model, in her own naive way, is actually more enriched than he is by all of this, and we see her enlightenment in small ways, even if on some level she doesn't care, not in the way the artist does. But the artist is the center of things here, in a brilliant performance. His work, what they show of it in the movie (I speak as an artist and art historian), is pathetic and weak, and in a way that's an achilles heel here—-his huge inspiration is just another cemetery sculpture, nothing much after all. Maybe that's the hidden intention, but I don't think so. The film is a gorgeous, simple black and white widescreen filming that is perfect for the material. The plot is simple—there are just a couple of interesting interruptions to the model and the artist working and growing together. At the end of the day and the end of life for the old man, it all presses on us as we watch—hence the pathos. One of the stars is the French countryside itself—the olive oil on bread, the light through the trees. In a way it's a poem to a perfect existence, as much as life allows on this small planet.See this? It really depends. It's a patient movie—requiring patience, as well. But it's beautiful and warm. And the acting is excellent. The torch is passed. The war is ending. Hope has some kind of connection to the profound, and the understanding that life is more than just the day's needs.

One review here called this film "bleak". I thought it anything but.Marc Cros (played by Jean Rochefort) is an observer--of life, of nature, of beauty, of life's rhythms--like any true artist must be. His is a special quest, a search for inspiration and for a project that is worthy of his time. He finds a young model named Merce (played by Aida Folch) and sets out to find his inspiration.Art might be viewed as an abstract principle or as a part of life. Cros's search is a philosophical one, but it takes place during the Nazi occupation of his homeland, France. At one point, the war invades his artistic sanctuary, but he is skilled at focusing on beauty even in such circumstances.In the end, "The Artist and the Model" shows us the fleeting nature of inspiration, the transience and persistence of beauty, and the sometimes obsessive nature of the artist in finding his inspiration.

Splendid film from the Academy Award winning director of ¨Belle Epoque¨ and ¨Chico and Rita¨ . It deals with a semi-retired sculptor Marc Cros (Jean Rochefort) , an old artist , lives with his wife named Lea (performed by ex-Italian bombshell Claudia Cardinale) who is now in his seventies and thickly bespectacled housekeeper (Chus Lampreave) , all of them reside in the rural south of France , in the middle but safe of the WWII that rages in the distance . He seems to have reached the end of his life and of his art . One day, Léa gives shelter to a marvelous young Spanish political refugee called Mercè (Aida Folch) . Their life is simplistic and gentle , experiencing little impact from the war that rages on in the north of the occupied country by Nazis (Gotz Otto) . The arrival of the young girl inspires the artist to once again to draw and develop his artistic skills . Marc soon understands that the girl, who agrees to pose for him, inspires him and gives life .Enjoyable drama with historical elements about France occupation from Nazis ; including enjoyable performances , adequate set design and delightfully shot . Thought-provoking as well as touching tale about an elderly sculptor who embarks on this last artistic and sensual adventure . ¨The artist and the model¨ results to be an agreeable story to deal with youthful , beauty , art , being developed in mirth , lively and vital style , though a sad ending . A very pleasant drama , plenty of sensitivity , emotion , artistic scenes and abundant nudism in charge of Aida Folch . This is Trueba's return to top form, with an intelligent and engaging script which uses entertaining situations to give us a good movie in a high sense and intimate sensitivity and that kept me entertained for the almost two hours of duration . It is well set and is as marvelously filmed as it is written and acted . This is one of those rare gems that does not stray from its purpose - to be a celebration of love , nature , and romance and sensitive tale of an old man to seek and find the beauty . Oscarized director Fernando Trueba , also writes the interesting script along with prestigious screenwriter Jean Claude Carriere , Luis Buñuel's ordinary . Filmed in his usual formal and luxurious style , without leaving a trace the joyful themes , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . The tone of The Artist and The Model is warm and reflective, centred on the contrasting dynamic of the gypsy -like Mercè , Aida Folch - housed by our couple , Rochefort-Cardinale , after escaping war-torn Spain - and the wizened, yet passionate Marc . The film is light and never somber, no small accomplishment from Fernando Trueba and his team . Starring French character actor Jean Rochefort - adds to the director's already eclectic oeuvre, making for satisfying viewing. Fernando Trueba had thought about doing this movie for years but it wasn't until his choice for the character Jean Rochefort called him up and said that he was going to retire that Trueba finally decided to go ahead and do it. When Fernando Trueba discussed the idea of the movie with Aida Folch, without even a screenplay, Folch left everything in Spain and moved to Paris for a few months to learn French properly and be ready for the project. Very good secondary cast formed by familiar faces such as Chus Lampreave , Gotz Otto and veteran Claudia Cardinale . Luxurious and evocative cinematography in black and white, shot in sumptuous monochrome , by Daniel Vilar , one of the best Spanish cameramen who has efficiently worked in Hollywood .Being filmed on location in wonderful landscapes from Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France ,Olot, Girona, Catalonia, Spain . Trueba had had this project in store since 1990 , initially he was to make this film in collaboration with Maximo, his sculptor brother , but his brother died and he gave up the whole thing until 2010. In fact , the film is dedicated to his brother , Maximo Trueba , and sound engineer , Pierre Genet , both of whom sadly deceased .This simple , attractive and delightful motion picture was well directed by Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba , as the flick is entertaining and well worth your time . His first success was Ópera Prima (1980) following the style of the "Madrid comedy". Trueba had major success with Sé Infiel y No mires Quién (1985) also known as : Be Wanton and Tread No Shame , starting a longer collaboration with the producer Andrés Vicente Gómez . He went on directing numerous successes such as Coarse salt , Too Much , Year of Enlightment , Milagro de Candeal , Niña De Tus Ojos or The Girl of Your Dreams , Calle 54 , Embrujo De Shanghai , Chico and Rita and recently : The Artist and the Model. The multi-award winner in Spain Fernando Trueba was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and he received the 1994 Oscar for Best Foreign Film to Belle Epoque (1992)and when accepting his Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, director (Fernando Trueba) said: "I would like to believe in God in order to thank him for this prize, but I only believe in (Billy Wilder), so... Thank you, Mr. Wilder!". Wilder himself reportedly phoned Trueba a few days later for acknowledgment and told him: "Hello Fernando, I'm God".

I went to see this movie based on the premise that its chief theme concerned an older man, the artist Marc Clos (Jean Rochefort), who instills his wisdom of life to a young woman--his model Merce (Aida Folch), a young Catalan woman--before his life is over. The year is 1943 (inferred because the battle of Stalingrad is mentioned several times) and France is occupied by the Germans. To capture this epoch, the movie's filmed in black and white. I understand this but I would have preferred color to capture the beauty of the physical landscape and the beauty of the Merce's bodyscape. But that's a minor quibble.Merce has escaped from a Spanish prison camp where she was interned for five years after the end of the Spanish Civil War (1935-1938). She is hungry and in desperate need of shelter and drifts into the French border village where Marc and Lea Clos (Lea played effectively by Claudia Cardinale) live. Marc is a sculptor and Lea knows what kind of woman he likes to draw and sculpt. And Merce fits the bill. So she is given food and a place to sleep in Marc's studio over the stable. And she is paid to model for Marc.Much of the movie involves Marc trying to find the right pose for Merce and he makes numerous drawings, many of which he discards, before finally setting out on the sculpture of her nude body.The movie really doesn't have much conflict or driving force. Marc is a very taciturn artist who doesn't say much but gets annoyed at Merce because often she doesn't know what exactly he wants. She's new to being a model and he doesn't exactly articulate very well what he wants. I saw very little of Marc offering up his wisdom on life, due I suppose to his quiet non-talkative nature. He does effectively convey the frailty of his body as he feels Merce's supple youthful body with his hands. These actions rather than words inform us of his approaching end and reveal his sadness that life is slipping away. Marc is grouchy and taciturn, but basically he is a good man. But all this doesn't lend itself to much drive in the movie. Finally Marc finishes his sculpture of Merce and she leaves via bicycle. Lea warns her to be careful because an occupying army in defeat is worse than a victorious one. But Merce encounters no Germans and Marc sits on his porch chair holding his old rifle on his lap. We see a cluster of birds in a tree. Then a shot rings out and they scatter. Did Marc commit suicide or did he fire to scare off the birds? Because he scattered a group of prying children with his gun, he might just as well have scattered the birds. Or maybe he decided that he'd beat death at its own game. We don't know. The movie could have been more engaging although one could argue it makes its points more subtly. I rate it seven out of ten.