Winter, 1915. Confined by her family to an asylum in the South of France - where she will never sculpt again - the chronicle of Camille Claudel's reclusive life, as she waits for a visit from her brother, Paul Claudel.
Juliette Binoche is brilliant, but the movie is a bit of a slog.
The film stops dead in its tracks with the introduction of stout Catholic brother Paul Claudel (Vincent), a curious result considering that the minimal drama the film has stems from whether his promised visit will actually take place.
What emerges is a demanding but hypnotic, probing portrait of an artist denied her art, by a director in total command of his.
As meticulous as one of Claudel's sculptures, Hors Satan director Dumont and his star do this true-life story justice with an empathetic telling.
Will stay with you for a long time — despite your sanity.
Camille Claudel 1915 is a measured, challenging historical drama but also one of Dumont's more accessible films.
This is a stark film, about the human condition at its most base and degraded.
With this movie, Dumont adds to a body of commandingly serious work.
A luminous performance from Juliette Binoche is the star attraction in this intense and challenging historical drama.
This is a difficult film, but made with impressive formal rigour.
A powerhouse performance by Juliette Binoche provides the beating, tortured heart of this finely wrought and very affecting film about the later life of sculptor Camille Claudel.
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday June 20, 2014, until Thursday June 26, 2014. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
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