En compagnie d'Antonin Artaud (1993)

May, 1946, in Paris young poet Jacques Prevel meets Antonin Artaud, the actor, artist, and writer just released from a mental asylum. Over ten months, we follow the mad Artaud from his ... See full summary »

Director:

Gérard Mordillat

Writers:

Gérard Mordillat, Jacques Prevel (book),

Stars:

Sami Frey, Marc Barbé, Julie Jézéquel

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sami Frey	...	Antonin Artaud
Marc Barbé	...	Jacques Prevel
Julie Jézéquel	...	Jany
Valérie Jeannet	...	Rolande Prevel
Clotilde de Bayser	...	Marthe Robert
Charlotte Valandrey	...	Colette Thomas
Anne Barbe
Philippe Baille
Philippe Beaufort
Alain Boissard
Jean-Marcel Bouguereau
Renee Cariven
Catherine Carrée
Jean-Yves Carrée
Jean-Marie Catonne

Storyline

May, 1946, in Paris young poet Jacques Prevel meets Antonin Artaud, the actor, artist, and writer just released from a mental asylum. Over ten months, we follow the mad Artaud from his cruel coaching of an actress in his "theatre of cruelty" to his semi-friendship with Prevel who buys him drugs and hangs on his every word. Meanwhile, Prevel divides his time between Jany, his blond, young, drug-hazed mistress, and Rolande, his dark-haired, long-suffering wife, who has a child during this time. Cruelty, neglect, poverty, egoism, madness, and the pursuit of art mix on the Left Bank.

---

Plot Keywords:

cruelty | poet | theatre | theatre of cruelty | writer | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Life and Times with Antonin Artaud

Company Credits

Production Co:

Archipel 33, France 2 (FR2), La Sept

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

User Reviews

Life of a Genius

This film is a wonderful piece devoted to one of the 20th century's greatest literary figures, Antonin Artaud, who in his short life, attempted to create an outrageous and cruel theater which would leave spectators dazzled. Artaud is just released from a mental asylum and is sought out by pretentious bohemians in cafes of Paris, a struggling poet, Jacques Prevel, wants to be introduced to him since he is his hero and he also needs Artauds help in becoming known. What follows is a relationship that develops out of need, the poet Jacques needs Artaud's mentorship and perhaps a handwritten introduction to his poetry and Artaud needs opium to fuel his pain so that he can write before the cancer he has can consume him. "I've survived my own death," Artaud says, and we already understand tha Artaud is on the verge of dying a physical death. Sami Frey, who plays Artaud, is simply extraordinary and there is no hint that this man is an actor, this man IS Artaud, everything he says, whether it be random missives on the nature of evil in a fly or movements with his hands, eyes and intense caricature of the face, realizes Artaud's living frenzy. The scenes are bleak, and the whole film is in black and white with a grainy quality which is simply perfect for the mood. We don't know if Artaud inspires the poet but at the end, Jacques writes, "I knew Antonin Artaud, he is the only man I loved . .. " and with that we realize that one of the greatest figures of man had such a supreme power of words that he will be sorely missed. Long live Artaud.