BB.5
(out of 5)
What begins as a fascinating examination of a society that won’t allow the superior talent of seventeenth-century Artemisia Gentileschi to work or study because of her gender descends into a boring courtroom drama centering around her affair with her much older mentor. Valentina Cervi gives a passionate performance, but otherwise there’s little to recommend it beyond historical interest (which is far greater than this film allows you to believe). A more thorough look at the life of this fantastic painter and her powerful work, her influences and methods would be very welcome, but this particular film is too uneven.
3 Emme Cinematografica, Première Heure, France 3 Cinéma, Schlemmer Film, Dania Film, Mediaset, Fonds Eurimages du Conseil de l’Europe, Presidenzia del Consiglio del Ministri-Dipartimento dello Spettacolo, Black Forest Films
Directed by Agnes Merlet
Story by Agnes Merlet, Christine Miller, Screenplay by Agnes Merlet, Christine Miller, Patrick Amos
Cinematography by Benoit Delhomme
Produced by Patrice Haddad
Music by Krishna Levy
Production Design by Emita Frigato
Costume Design by Dominique Borg
Film Editing by Guy Lecorne, Daniele Sordoni
Film Festivals: TIFF 1997
Golden Globe Award Nomination
Best Foreign Language Film (France)
