The former famous painter Frenhofer revisits an abandoned project using the girlfriend of a young visiting artist. Questions about truth, life, and artistic limits are explored.The former famous painter Frenhofer revisits an abandoned project using the girlfriend of a young visiting artist. Questions about truth, life, and artistic limits are explored.The former famous painter Frenhofer revisits an abandoned project using the girlfriend of a young visiting artist. Questions about truth, life, and artistic limits are explored.
- Awards
- 5 wins & 6 nominations
Daphne Goodfellow
- Deux touristes
- (as Daphné Goodfellow)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere was no script per se. The film was shot in sequential order and the day's shooting was dictated by what had been filmed the day before.
- GoofsAt the 2:13 mark (blu-ray edition) - as the camera begins to slowly close on Marianne settling on the couch, a mic sneaks into bottom of frame.
- Crazy creditsTous les dessins et peintures d'Edouard Frenhofer sont l'oeuvre de Bernard Dufour. All the drawings and paintings of Edouard Frenhofer are the work of Bernard Dufour.
- Alternate versionsShort version (125 minutes, less nudity, brighter lighting, almost different takes and editing) titled "Divertimento" showing for TV, then released theatrically in 1993.
- SoundtracksAgon
Music by Igor Stravinsky
Performed by Sinfonie-Orchester des Südwestfunks (as Orchestre de Südwestfunk de Baden-Baden)
Conducted by Hans Rosbaud
(avec l'autorisation des disques Adès)
Featured review
I guess I enjoy watching paint dry
Until last night, I have shied away from this film due to its daunting 4-hour length. But watching Jacques Rivette's "La Belle Noiseuse" was not nearly as difficult as I feared it might be. In fact, it actually feels liberating to watch a film that doesn't limit itself to a predetermined time constraint. With most films that rely heavily on an advancing plot, any possible lulls may wear on the viewer. "La Belle Noiseuse" boldly eschews the artifice of plot and standard pacing, and deeply focuses on its story of an artist, Frenhofer (played by Michel Piccoli), finding inspiration in a young model (played by Emmanuelle Beart) to paint again after a 10-year hiatus.
The drawing scenes alone really held my interest. Presented with little dialogue, they really made me feel as if I were witnessing art unfold, which is nothing less than exhilarating. It was also fascinating to see this in combination with the subtle development and changes that take place within Beart's character, Marianne, as she transforms from a fidgety, resentful subject to an impassioned muse who sheds away all corporeal pretense and lends her bare soul to the canvas. Giving support to the complex and nuanced performances of the two leads, the waiflike Jane Birkin is also a standout in the role of Liz, the artist's wife, especially in the later scenes in which she expresses conflict with her husband's art.
I am glad that I have finally seen this movie, and I definitely encourage anyone with a curiosity about this movie to see it too. All it requires is four hours of your time and an open mind. "La Belle Noiseuse" is an extremely long film, but never boring. Watching this film is like slowly immersing your body into a hot bath. Your enjoyment of it all depends on how willing you are to adapt yourself to its pacing. But like a hot bath, it takes a little adjustment.
The drawing scenes alone really held my interest. Presented with little dialogue, they really made me feel as if I were witnessing art unfold, which is nothing less than exhilarating. It was also fascinating to see this in combination with the subtle development and changes that take place within Beart's character, Marianne, as she transforms from a fidgety, resentful subject to an impassioned muse who sheds away all corporeal pretense and lends her bare soul to the canvas. Giving support to the complex and nuanced performances of the two leads, the waiflike Jane Birkin is also a standout in the role of Liz, the artist's wife, especially in the later scenes in which she expresses conflict with her husband's art.
I am glad that I have finally seen this movie, and I definitely encourage anyone with a curiosity about this movie to see it too. All it requires is four hours of your time and an open mind. "La Belle Noiseuse" is an extremely long film, but never boring. Watching this film is like slowly immersing your body into a hot bath. Your enjoyment of it all depends on how willing you are to adapt yourself to its pacing. But like a hot bath, it takes a little adjustment.
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Beautiful Troublemaker
- Filming locations
- Assas, Hérault, France(Frenhofer's mansion and studio)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $403,056
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,887
- Nov 26, 2017
- Gross worldwide
- $403,056
- Runtime3 hours 58 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
- 1.37 : 1
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