SYNOPSIS (translating a few sentences here and there from the four-line summary on the superb Liberty DVD, issued in the "Les Incontournables" series): Lucie Audibert, a student at the Sorbonne, majoring in Art History, is researching the work of Jean Antoine Watteau (1684-1721). Many of his paintings feature a man with his back to the artist. On some occasions, this mystery man is actually the central figure. I've always believed that the man is Watteau himself and presumably the plucky little heroine of this movie has arrived at the same conclusion. Why did Watteau do this? To my mind, it's definitely a symbol of rejection. Yes, French society now adores him, but there was a time when he was literally starving in a garret. But he was just as talented then as he is now. Perhaps more so! Anyway, as far as I could make out (French is not my native tongue), the idea behind the artist's back-to-the-"camera" act was not made abundantly clear in the movie. Instead it was somewhat obscured by a secondary plot revolving around a mute youth who scrapes up a few coins as a living statue. Presumably the intention was to make this youth's two-way rejection shed the same light on Watteau. But it doesn't work in my opinion. I don't think audiences will get the connection – a connection that is further obscured by a plot twist that lands the young man in hospital. Anyway, to get back to the main story, for some totally unknown reason, the little heroine's professor (played by her co-star, Jean Dussart) is violently opposed to her efforts. He does his best (in fact, he steps way out of line) to discourage her from continuing her research. But Lucie is stubbornly persistent.
COMMENT: "What My Eyes Have Seen: The Watteau Mystery" (to translate the French title, rather than refer to the movie by its generally used English title, "The Vanishing Point" – which is too close to the 1971 cult movie for comfort, in my opinion) has loads of mesmerizing atmosphere and a great little actress in Sylvie Testud, but all in all is somewhat disappointing for at least three major reasons which I've outlined in my Synopsis. To recapitulate: (1) The mystery is never made abundantly clear. (2) The mystery is obscured by a secondary plot. (3) The professor's over-the-top opposition is never explained. This said, however, the movie certainly has wondrous atmosphere. Partly this is achieved by the splendid acting of Sylvie Testud; partly by the superb cinematography, often using real locations such as Hervé's Café and the surrounding streets ; and partly by David Moreau's haunting music score.
COMMENT: "What My Eyes Have Seen: The Watteau Mystery" (to translate the French title, rather than refer to the movie by its generally used English title, "The Vanishing Point" – which is too close to the 1971 cult movie for comfort, in my opinion) has loads of mesmerizing atmosphere and a great little actress in Sylvie Testud, but all in all is somewhat disappointing for at least three major reasons which I've outlined in my Synopsis. To recapitulate: (1) The mystery is never made abundantly clear. (2) The mystery is obscured by a secondary plot. (3) The professor's over-the-top opposition is never explained. This said, however, the movie certainly has wondrous atmosphere. Partly this is achieved by the splendid acting of Sylvie Testud; partly by the superb cinematography, often using real locations such as Hervé's Café and the surrounding streets ; and partly by David Moreau's haunting music score.