Séraphine

Name: Séraphine
Genre: Biography, Drama, War
Released: June 5, 2009
Duration: 125 min
Rating: 84

2009

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Seraphine

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Movie Details & Credits

Music Box Films | Release Date: June 5, 2009 | Unrated

Summary: Seraphine vividly recounts the tragic story of French naïve painter Séraphine Louis aka Séraphine de Senlis (1864-1942), a humble servant who becomes a gifted self-taught painter. Discovered by prominent critic and collector William Uhde, she came to prominence between the wars grouped with other naïve painters like Henri Rousseau only toSeraphine vividly recounts the tragic story of French naïve painter Séraphine Louis aka Séraphine de Senlis (1864-1942), a humble servant who becomes a gifted self-taught painter. Discovered by prominent critic and collector William Uhde, she came to prominence between the wars grouped with other naïve painters like Henri Rousseau only to descend into madness and obscurity with the onset of the Great Depression and World War II. (Music Box Films)… Expand

Director: Martin Provost

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, War

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 125 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Kenneth Turan

What makes Seraphine, directed and co-written by Martin Provost, so exceptional is that it neither condescends to nor romanticizes its subject. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

It "explains" nothing but feels everything. It reminds me of two other films: Bresson's "Mouchette," about a poor girl victimized by a village, and Karen Gehre's "Begging Naked," shown at Ebertfest this year, about a woman whose art is prized even as she lives in Central Park. Read full review

Stan Hall

Among the best of its kind, thanks in no small part to the utterly believable, vanity-free performance of Yolande Moreau in the title role. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

The line between madness and genius is thin. Not to mention more than amply explored in any number of films about tortured artists. But to look at the almost religious ecstasy on Moreau's face is to feel the artist's passion and be inspired by it. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Séraphine's dependence on her patron--a cultivated but emotionally detached homosexual, who knew a fellow outsider when he saw one but came and went in her life without warning--is almost as unbearably moving as her inevitable unraveling--when money and fame cut the artist off from her creative wellsprings and drove her over the edge. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Moving historical drama brings a fascinating chapter of art history to life. Read full review

Noel Murray

Séraphine is far more powerful when it lingers on Louis at work. Read full review

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User Reviews

sunflower

Sep 29, 2009

This was a brilliant movie regardless of its so called "slow pace". It had perfect atmosphere, perfect timing, perfect everything. I particularly liked the main actress and the way she brought life and a tacit mystery to the character. Seraphine was fascinating from start to finish.

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yumint

Jul 20, 2009

The true story of Seraphine, her desperate poverty as a maid, her love of trees and water, creating swirling energies of color in her secret painting, paints mixed from blood and flowers and stolen wax, all beautifully acted, gives the movie a premier place among films about artists.

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laurenh

Jul 26, 2009

Brilliant use of lighting and cropped shots.

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juderobe

Dec 26, 2010

Not only was I pleased to learn more about an artist whose work I have seen and admired, but this film made a careful effort to be convincing. I believed in the portrait it made of her. The actress deserved an award. Also the
cinematography and the script and the casting were allNot only was I pleased to learn more about an artist whose work I have seen and admired, but this film made a careful effort to be convincing. I believed in the portrait it made of her. The actress deserved an award. Also the
cinematography and the script and the casting were all exemplary. It was hard to finish because I read in Wikipedia about her, but the film managed to show every part of her life with grace .… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WillT

Sep 6, 2009

The producer never learned to edit apparently. Would have been great if condensed to 1 hour.

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JoelB

Aug 6, 2009

This was a slow, boring movie - and I love art, the process of creating art, and good movies. It tried to present accurately who Seraphine was but by not going beyond what it knew, it portrayed a woman's outside with no sense of what was inside. It would have been a better movie, if This was a slow, boring movie - and I love art, the process of creating art, and good movies. It tried to present accurately who Seraphine was but by not going beyond what it knew, it portrayed a woman's outside with no sense of what was inside. It would have been a better movie, if had been moring daring and given us some significant inner thoughts and feelings even if they were technically fictional. By the way, the expert who spoke after the showing I saw, admitted that as far as she knew the only real thing about the whole movie were the paintings. I've been amazed that no critic has given this movie a poor review - what were they thinking?… Expand

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josephc

Sep 5, 2009

This movie couldn't have been slower or more boring. that final endless shot was neither "balm": nor "benediction" ... it was deadly, and symptomatic of every painfully prolonged moment that preceded it. this film was dark, dreary, and tedious from its first shots to its final slo-moThis movie couldn't have been slower or more boring. that final endless shot was neither "balm": nor "benediction" ... it was deadly, and symptomatic of every painfully prolonged moment that preceded it. this film was dark, dreary, and tedious from its first shots to its final slo-mo slog through the proverbial molasses. did i really see the same film that the critics raved about???… Expand

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