Séraphine
A film by Martin Provost
Starring Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur, Anne Bennent
SÉRAPHINE is the true story of Séraphine Louis aka Séraphine de Senlis (Yolande Moreau), a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41 — self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel — began painting brilliantly colorful canvases.
In 1912 Wilhelm Uhde (Ulrich Tukur), a German art critic and collector — he was one of the first collectors of Picasso and champion of naïve primitive painter Le Douanier Rousseau — discovered her paintings while she worked for him as a maid in his lodgings in Senlis outside Paris. Uhde became her patron and grouped her work with other naïve painters – the so-called “Sacred Heart Painters” — with acclaimed shows in Paris, elsewhere in Europe and eventually at New York’s MOMA.
Director Martin Provost builds his story around the relationship between the avant-garde art dealer and the visionary cleaning lady, forging a testament to the mysteries of creativity and the resilience of one woman’s spirit.
A sleeper hit in France, SÉRAPHINE went on to a surprise win of the Best Picture and Best Actress for Yolande Moreau along with five other awards at the 2009 Cesars, the French equivalent of the Academy Awards.
Critical Reaction
- Seven Césars (France’s equivalent of the Academy Award)
- Audience Award at 2009 Scottsdale Film Festival
- Best Foreign Film of 2009 – Women Film Critics Circle
- Best Actress of 2009, Yolande Moreau – LA Film Critics
4 STARS! Miraculous.
—Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-TimesIf you turn off all that electronic crap in your pockets and sit still for it, “Séraphine” will be one of the year’s most memorable moviegoing experiences.
—Andrew O’Hehir, SlateA superior film…almost biblical in its simplicity and passion.
—Stanley Kauffman, New Republic
External Links
- Official site
- View the trailer
- David Edelstein, New York Magazine
- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
- David Denby, The New Yorker
- Roger Ebert’s 4 STAR review
- Chicago Reader Critic’s Choice
- New City review
Photos
Technical Information
- Production Year
- 2008
- Country of Production
- France
- Language
- French with English subtitles
- Running Time
- 125 min
Showtimes
Showtimes for this film to be announced soon.
See showtimes for all currently scheduled films.