SURVIVING PICASSO

UK, 1996, 128 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Natascha Mc Elhone, Julianne Moore, Joss Ackland, Susannah Harker, Peter Eyre, Bob Peck, Dominic West, Jane Laportaire, Diane Venora, Joan Plowright.
Directed by James Ivory.

Not knowing much about Picasso, I found the film quite interesting. I checked with an art expert and she said that the screenplay did justice to Picasso.

The film opens during the War in occupied Paris. Picasso already has a worldwide reputation. Divorced, he has an estranged wife and child and is an unrepentant womaniser. He meets a young aspiring artist, Francoise, who becomes his mistress (but seeing herself as married to him) and the mother of Claude and Paloma. The film shows their love and the deterioration of their relationship as well as some flashbacks to show his wedding to the Russian dancer, Olga, as well as his more conventional marriage.

It is in this context of Picasso's artistic and pioneering brilliance and his macho self-absorption and use of woman that we see his genius and his deficiencies as a likeable human being. Anthony Hopkins gives another intense and distinctive performance as Picasso. Portrait of the artist as…?

1. Picasso’s reputation, his art, his influence, the film giving an opportunity to appreciate his work, his reflections, his creativity, his style? The popularity in his own day?

2. The personal story, egotistical and narcissistic, his vanity, self-questioning? The flashbacks and his relationships with women? Olga, Diaghilev, the Russian ballet, the exciting relationship, the birth of her son? His leaving? Her consequent madness, the only wife of Picasso? pursuing him? Talking to Françoise? Marie- Therese, her daughter, his visits, the payments, the gifts, at home with this family? Dora, her intensity, mistress, the gift of the house, her moods, the fight with Marie Therese as Picasso painted? His visits to Dora?

3. Picasso and his attitudes, his style, art, the art dealer, supporting him when nobody else did? Sebardes and the years of faithful service? His control over access to Picasso?

4. Picasso and self first, doing what I want, loving whom I want? The effect of his relationship with each woman? Controlling them? Françoise as controlled, his orders, the many years? The children? Paulo and his father’s disregard of him, the crash and the papier mache head, change of attitude, working with his father? Picasso as fickle? Meeting Jacqueline? The attraction, the infidelity? Her subservience and calling him mon seigneur?

5. Françoise, Genevieve, young, eager, love of art, the visit to Picasso, hurrying to his house? The attraction, Françoise as susceptible, trying to be independent? Her clashes with her father and his ousting her? The bond with her grandmother, love, the visits? Becoming pregnant, the two children? The continued love of the grandmother, her coming to visit, playing the casino, her death? Françoise and her own art? Picasso putting her down? The setting up of the studio, her being a mother, playing with the children, watching Picasso and his devotion to them? Wanting Marie- Therese to raise and her daughter to meet her son? The beach scene?

6. Her friendship with the chauffeur, with some parties, the effect? Picasso firing the chauffeur, his leaving after 25 years, his strong words to Picasso, Picasso relentless? Warning that Françoise would leave him?

7. Picasso and his interest in pottery, the work with the kiln, with Jacqueline, the painting? Françoise seeing them in the restaurant? In Paris, the meeting with her father, a reconciliation with him? The funeral, meeting Genevieve again, the bonds between the two? Françoise and her reaction, packing, taking the children, a new life? Her asking Picasso to commit to her in the church as he made her do in the church in the past?

8. The flashbacks, Olga, the ballet, the whirling social life, Picasso leaving her, her madness, pursuing him, talking to Françoise? Marie- Therese, the marriage, the daughter, his visits? Memories of Dora, her artwork, clashing with Marie- Therese?

9. The chauffeur, fired, his strong speech? Sebardes, his explaining himself to Françoise, getting meaning for life from Picasso, yet his wife, little time at home, poor salary, paying his own fares? The art dealer, his interest in Picasso, supporting him, yet Picasso mocking him? The buyer from the United States, kept waiting, allowed in, his response to the paintings, the American response to Picasso? Comparisons with Matisse?

10. The visit to Matisse, going to the chapel that he painted, issues about faith, praying and not praying, Matisse’s friendship with Picasso, the gifts?

11. The world of Picasso, France, his art, the final bullfight and Françoise leading the tribute on the horse?

12. A story of the first half of the 20th century?