Watch Seraphine

Seraphine, a French-Belgian movie from 2008, tells the story of a simple and humble woman who is driven to make art in order to express the beauty she sees in the world around her. The film is based on the true story of Seraphine Louis, a painter who lived in poverty in the early twentieth century and who achieved fame late in life.

The movie follows Seraphine's (Yolande Moreau) life as a housekeeper in a small town in rural France. She spends her days cleaning houses and scrubbing floors, but deep down she is always thinking about painting. Whenever she has a spare moment, she runs to the hills to collect pigments and pieces of straw, which she uses to make her own paints.

One day, Wilhelm Uhde (Ulrich Tukur), a German art collector, moves into town and discovers Seraphine's paintings. He is immediately struck by their beauty and becomes her patron. With his backing, Seraphine begins to paint with even greater intensity, producing vast canvases filled with intricate patterns and swirling colors.

As Seraphine's reputation grows, her mental stability begins to erode. She becomes increasingly paranoid and loses touch with reality. Uhde, who has grown fond of her, tries to help her, but he is unable to prevent her from falling into madness.

The movie is a beautifully rendered portrait of a woman whose talent and creativity were unable to save her from the harshness of life. It is a deeply moving film that is both emotionally powerful and visually stunning.

Seraphine's paintings are an integral part of the movie. The film features many of her works, which are shown in detail, allowing the audience to fully appreciate the beauty of her art. The cinematography is also excellent, with long, sweeping shots that capture the beauty of the French countryside.

One of the film's greatest strengths is Yolande Moreau's portrayal of Seraphine. Moreau fully embodies the character, capturing the woman's innocence, fragility, and passion. Her performance is so convincing that it is difficult to imagine anyone else in the role.

Ulrich Tukur is also excellent as Uhde. He gives a nuanced performance that reveals the character's complex emotions and motivations. Anne Bennent, who plays Seraphine's employer, is also outstanding.

The film is directed by Martin Provost, who has a deep understanding of the material. He captures the beauty of Seraphine's paintings, while also portraying the harsh realities of her life. Provost's direction is understated, allowing the story to unfold at its own pace.

Overall, Seraphine is a beautiful and haunting film that tells the story of a woman whose art was both her salvation and her undoing. The film is a tribute to the human spirit, to the power of creativity, and to the beauty that can be found in even the harshest of circumstances. It is a masterpiece that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Seraphine is a 2008 history movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 5 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 84.