REMBRANDT FECIT

Netherlands, 1977, 120 minutes, Colour.
Frans Stelling.
Directed by Jos Stelling.

A Dutch production noted for its beautiful photography. It traces the main elements of Rembrandt's adult life, his art work, patrons, life in Amsterdam, his relationships with the three main women in his life, his relationships with his children. The period re-creation is excellent and many of the sequences are staged to appear like his paintings. However, the film is limited in its presentation of Rembrandt's creative work, his creative process and the range of his art especially the omission of his religious subjects. There is a classical score, an atmosphere of the 17th century. The film can be at times tedious in its measured presentation of the artist.

1. Audience interest in Rembrandt as an artist, person, his life and times? How much did the film presuppose audience appreciation of Rembrandt? The film designed for a Dutch audience, international audience?

2. The importance of the colour photography, the presentation of the paintings, the tableaux of the paintings? The presentation of landscapes, people? The musical score? An admiration for Rembrandt's work and the communication of this?
3. The criteria for selection of incidents in Rembrandt's life, aspects of his creative process and work? The omissions, for example, his religious subjects?

4. The pacing of the film and its measured presentation? Tableaux, poses? The presentation of the creative process?

5. The value of the film as biography? The portrait of a man, his talent, life and times? His opportunities, his capacity for work? His moving to Amsterdam, his patrons and their demands? Portraiture, groups? The relationship with his women especially the courting of his wife, the stormy relationship with his housekeeper, the peaceful relationship with his mistress? The birth of his son and his love for his son? His daughter? The film's stressing the financial aspects of Rembrandt's life? Patronage money, his extravagance, his bankruptcy? The build-up to his old age, death?

6. Rembrandt as artist? His eyes, the audience seeing landscapes and people through his eyes? The elaboration of his artistic theory and contemporary critical response? The visualizing of the process of his painting?

7. The women that Rembrandt loved and loved him? The introduction to the girl who was to become his wife, his courting of her, their happiness together, the birth of their son, the impact of her death? The presence of the widow in the household, her intense devotion to him, their sexual relationship? Her disintegration, the ugliness of the court case, her madness? Rembrandt's seeming callousness? The contrast with Hendrikje? Her presence, her giving of herself to Rembrandt's service, love? Her fidelity? The child? Her death and the pain for Rembrandt?

8. The personable Rembrandt - the scenes with his son, daughter, his son's marriage, his son's death?

9. The social background of Holland in the 17th century, Amsterdam and its authorities, their manner, religion? Patronage? Money and the bankruptcy courts? The religious background especially in the ceremonies for example the baptismal ceremonies?

10. A portrait of the artist in his life and times? How much insight into the artist?