Yolande Moreau is magistral. Her gestures/postures seem to come straight out of generations of harsh "paysannerie". Why does she walk barefooted? Used
to wearing clogs? The clumsy way she walks with her laced shoes!
“Who loses himself in his passion loses less
than who loses his passion” is what came to my mind first when I watched
Seraphine. She is all about passion. Touched by grace. Whether she waxes the
floor, communiates with trees, or paints, she does it with grace and passion.
“Be ardent in your job and you will find God in your cooking
pots” she answered her sponsor when asked if she plans on slaving her life away.
Waxing the floor, doing the laundry or slaving in kitchens are for her extatic experiences. And it’s interesting that it’s when she gets deprived of her
menial jobs that she loses her mental balance.
Her internment, long stay in psychiatric asylums and death
are tragically similar to Camille Claudel’s. It’s very very weird isn t it? But
seraphine doesn t get involved at all in her time’s issues. WWI? She couldn t
care less. She even takes advantage of it salvaging canvas from her mecen’s
house. 1929? It’s her sponsor’s fault if her paintings don t sell anymore. It’s
never about social classes (even though she is constantly humiliated), sexism
or any controversial topic. Seraphine is entirely in her passion. In this
regard she is way superior to Camille Claudel as movie character.
The musical them is magistral too. Very simple and repetitive.
Like if announcing a tragical event, a chock which will bring the repetition
to term.
Hicham.
