Watch Louise Bourgeois The Spider, the Mistress & the Tangerine

Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress & the Tangerine is a documentary film directed by Marion Cajori and Amei Wallach. The film tells the story of Louise Bourgeois, a French-American artist who is best known for her sculptures and installations that explore themes such as sexuality, femininity, and the human body. The documentary features archival footage of Bourgeois at work, as well as interviews with her friends and family members, including her son Jean-Louis Bourgeois. The film also follows Bourgeois around her home in New York City, where she discusses her life and work with journalist Amei Wallach.

One of the central themes of the film is the relationship between Bourgeois and her art. Throughout the documentary, Bourgeois talks about the deep emotional connection she has to her work, and how her sculptures and installations are expressions of her own inner turmoil and struggles. We see her working in her studio, creating pieces that are both beautiful and unsettling, and we hear her talk about the intense physical and emotional labor that goes into each piece.

The documentary also explores Bourgeois' personal life, including her difficult childhood in France and her long and sometimes tumultuous marriage to art historian Robert Goldwater. We see interviews with her children and grandchildren, who offer insights into Bourgeois' personality and the impact that her art has had on their lives.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is its exploration of Bourgeois' use of spiders and other animals in her work. Bourgeois was fascinated by spiders from a young age, and they appear in many of her sculptures and installations. We see footage of her working on a giant spider sculpture, and we hear her talk about what the spider represents to her and why she finds it such a compelling symbol.

Throughout the film, Bourgeois comes across as a complex and enigmatic figure, at once fiercely independent and deeply vulnerable. We see her struggling with the aging process and the loss of her physical abilities, and we hear her talk about her fears of death and dying. At the same time, we see her continuing to create art with a passion and intensity that is both inspiring and unsettling.

Overall, Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, the Mistress & the Tangerine is a beautifully crafted documentary that offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and work of one of the most important artists of the 20th century. It is a must-see for anyone interested in art, women's history, and the creative process.