ANCHOR INTRO: If the new Transformers movie is too big, loud, and empty-headed, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando has a smart, literate, French film opening this weekend at Landmark as an alternate choice. French filmmaker Martin Provost centers his films around female characters. In both Seraphine and Violette, the women are French artists. But while the painter Seraphine languished in a mental institution, Violette successfully rages against society through her writing. Violette Leduc was born out of wedlock at the beginning of the 20th Century. She channels her anger into her writing and then has the good fortune to cross paths with author Simone DeBeauvoir. CLIP Bonjour Madame… The film belongs to actress Emmanuelle Devos who devours the screen as the early feminist writer who tackled subjects others were afraid to touch. The film’s divided into chapters, each focused on a different person in her life. Throughout it all, Leduc hungers for love and emotional connection while pursuing her own personal freedom with ferocious passion. Provost provides enticing samples of Leduc’s writing but conveys much of her emotional story without words. So a key moment with her mother is summed up by a hand slipping out of her grasp and her eagerness to meet DeBeauvoir is captured in her footsteps running up the stars. CLIP SFX The film also reminds us of both the romance and the grind of writing a novel by hand. “Violette” offers a passionate and intelligent alternative to the Hollywood blockbuster. Beth Accomando, KPBS News.
If the new "Transformers: Age of Extinction" is too big, loud, and empty-headed, then turn to "Violette" (opening Friday at Landmark's La Jolla Village Theaters), a smart, literate, French film, for relief.
French filmmaker Martin Provost centers his films around female characters. In both "Seraphine" and "Violette," the women are real French artists. But while the painter Séraphine de Senlis languished in a mental institution, Violette Leduc successfully raged against society through her books.
Violette Leduc (played by Emmanuelle Devos) was born out of wedlock at the beginning of the 20th century. She channels her anger into her writing and then has the good fortune to cross paths with author Simone DeBeauvoir.
Companion Viewing
"Julia" (1977)
"My Brilliant Career" (1979)
"Waiting for the Moon" (1987)
"Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" (1994)
"Read My Lips" (2001)
"The Hours" (2002)
"Seraphine" (2008)
The film belongs to actress Emmanuelle Devos (also brilliant in "Read My Lips"). She devours the screen as the early feminist writer who tackled subjects others were afraid to touch. The film is divided into chapters, each focused on a different person in her life. Throughout it all, Leduc hungers for love and emotional connection while pursuing her own personal freedom with ferocious passion.
Provost provides enticing samples of Leduc’s writing but conveys much of her emotional story without words. So a key moment with her mother is summed up by a hand slipping out of her grasp, and her eagerness to meet DeBeauvoir is captured in the sound of her footsteps running up the stairs.
The film also reminds us of both the romance and the grind of writing a novel by hand. “Violette” offers a passionate and intelligent alternative to the Hollywood summer blockbuster.
"Violette" is in French with English subtitles and is unrated. Watch the trailer.
