Film Review: La Belle Noiseuse (FRA 1991) by Jacques Rivette

Content:In this podcast, we talk about the French film La Belle Neusoise by Jacques Rivette from 1991.  The film, which exists in two versions (four and two hours), depicts the creation of a painting and the complex relationships between the ageing painter Edouard Frenhofer, his wife and his model Marianne.  The podcast highlights the film's slow-paced narrative and philosophical depth, focusing on the importance of art and the sacrifices it demands. The film eschews a romantic relationship between painter and model, focusing instead on the souls of the protagonists and their artistic process. The sparse sound design and the few dialogues underline the visual and emotional intensity.Plot:  Formerly famous painter Edouard Frenhofer (Michel Piccoli) lives in seclusion with his wife Liz (Jane Birkin) in a country house in the French Provence.When the young artist Nicolas visits him with his girlfriend Marianne, Frenhofer decides to resume work on his painting “The Beautiful Troublemaker” after a ten-year break. And he desperately wants Marianne (Emmanuelle Béart) to become his model.The creative process that follows changes the lives of the protagonists. Questions are asked about truth and life as well as the meaning and limits of art.The film is based on the short story “The Unknown Masterpiece” by the 19th century French poet Honoré de Balzac.