Klimt (2006)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Raoul Ruiz

Writers:

Raoul Ruiz (written by)
Gilbert Adair (translation: English)

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (Austria)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

A portrait of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt (Malkovich) whose lavish, sexual paintings came to symbolize the art nouveau style of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Plot Keywords:

Paris | Artist | Hospital | Vienna | Art Nouveau

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

John Malkovich	...	Klimt
Veronica Ferres	...	Midi
Stephen Dillane	...	Secretary
Saffron Burrows	...	Lea de Castro
Sandra Ceccarelli	...	Serena Lederer
Nikolai Kinski	...	Egon Schiele
Aglaia Szyszkowitz	...	Mizzi
Joachim Bissmeier	...	Hugo Moritz
Ernst Stötzner	...	Minister Hartl
Paul Hilton	...	Duke Octave
Annemarie Düringer	...	Klimt's Mother
Irina Wanka	...	Berta Zuckerkandl
Florentín Groll	...	Messerschmidt (as Florentin Groll)
Miguel Herz-Kestranek	...	Dr. Stein
Marion Mitterhammer	...	Klimt's Sister

Runtime:

97 min | 131 min (director's cut)

Country:

Austria | France | Germany | UK

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:6 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Japan:R-15 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Baumgartner Höhe, Vienna, Austria

Company:

Austrian Film Institute

Movie Connections:

References Frida (2002)

A MASTERPIECE! if one knows Klimt well but confusing otherwise

This is a superb movie; IF (and this is a big if) one is already familiar with the life and work of Gustav Klimt. This movie was intended as an "art house" film, and was never meant to be a major theatrical release. However, even for an "art house" film it is rather specialized in how it portrays Gustav Klimt; and if one is not familiar with this artist (and Vienna at the turn of the 20th century) then this film is quite confusing and vague- the quantity and quality of female imagery notwithstanding. Despite its very specialized nature some major stars are in this film though only one is an American and even he lives and works mainly in Europe. That star is John Malkovich; who is in the title role. Malkovich gives a fine job though he does not resemble Klimt as closely as some other actors who have portrayed Klimt in the past (most notably August Schmolzer in "Bride of the Wind"). The only other actor in this film that may be recognized by Americans is Saffron Burrows; who portrays his great love interest. Her role is fictional, but serves as a continuity thread through this film which depicts in an allegorical manner his career and life from 1900; when Klimt won a gold medal at the great Paris Exposition to 1918; when he died.

The other actors are notable European actors whose works have generally not been seen in the United States. The notable German actress Veronica Ferres portrays Emily Floge; Klimt's lifelong companion. Again, unless you are familiar with the life of Klimt the role of Floge in this movie is very difficult to understand. And, it is never explained in the movie. Basically, Klimt and Floge were in-laws by the marriage of Gustav's brother to Emily's sister. The seemed to never have been "lovers" but the unmarried Emily seems to have been a wife (as well as business partner) to Gustav in every other respect. It was a complex relationship and Ferres explains in a side featurette ("The Making of Klimt") the difficulty of showing this relationship. The Austrian actress Aglaia Szyszkowitz portrays "Mizzi"; a model who bore two kids for Klimt of which one is shown- his son Gustav. He never married her, and the movie implies that he saw his kids only occasionally without financially supporting them in any noticeable manner. In real life Klimt did financially support his children by this woman. Of note is that the nickname for Emily Floge was "Middi" and the pronunciation of the two names is very similar; adding to the already considerable confusion.

The movie does portray Klimt in a negative manner concerning his offspring. He acknowledged paternity of four children and the movies deals with the other two as well as the two of Mizzi. Those children are dealt with almost as afterthoughts and one is positively embarrassing (perhaps the ultimate embarrassment). In reality Klimt probably had many more kids and this concern is mentioned briefly in the film. The film is certainly critical of Klimt in this regard; as well as his attitude towards women in general. There are some historical inaccuracies in this film such as a nurse in a Vienna hospital in early 1918 who has a VERY obvious British accent. This is highly unlikely, to say the least, to have been the case considering that the Austrians were in war with the British at that point, but overall the historical settings and costumes are well researched. The movie overall is well researched, but, again, quite confusing to somebody who is not very familiar with the life of this genius. I recommend that anybody who wants to see the film to first read up and look at the artworks of Klimt. Then the film will make sense and be seen as the superb achievement it is.