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IMDbPro

Seraphine

Original title: Séraphine
  • 20082008
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
A drama based on the life of French painter Séraphine de Senlis.
Play trailer1:57
1 Video
11 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
In 1912 German collector Wilhelm Uhde rents a flat in Senlis to write and take a break from Parisian life. He hires a 48-year old cleaning lady, Séraphine. Some time later, he notices a smal... Read allIn 1912 German collector Wilhelm Uhde rents a flat in Senlis to write and take a break from Parisian life. He hires a 48-year old cleaning lady, Séraphine. Some time later, he notices a small painting on wood at a local notable home.In 1912 German collector Wilhelm Uhde rents a flat in Senlis to write and take a break from Parisian life. He hires a 48-year old cleaning lady, Séraphine. Some time later, he notices a small painting on wood at a local notable home.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Martin Provost
  • Writers
    • Marc Abdelnour
    • Martin Provost
  • Stars
    • Yolande Moreau
    • Ulrich Tukur
    • Anne Bennent
Top credits
  • Director
    • Martin Provost
  • Writers
    • Marc Abdelnour
    • Martin Provost
  • Stars
    • Yolande Moreau
    • Ulrich Tukur
    • Anne Bennent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 102Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 20 wins & 7 nominations

    Videos1

    Séraphine
    Trailer 1:57
    Séraphine

    Photos11

    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau and Ulrich Tukur in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)
    Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur, and Nico Rogner in Seraphine (2008)
    Séraphine
    Yolande Moreau in Seraphine (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Yolande Moreau
    Yolande Moreau
    • Séraphine Louis, dite Séraphine de Senlisas Séraphine Louis, dite Séraphine de Senlis
    Ulrich Tukur
    Ulrich Tukur
    • Wilhelm Uhdeas Wilhelm Uhde
    Anne Bennent
    Anne Bennent
    • Anne-Marie Uhdeas Anne-Marie Uhde
    Geneviève Mnich
    • Mme Duphotas Mme Duphot
    Adélaïde Leroux
    Adélaïde Leroux
    • Minoucheas Minouche
    Nico Rogner
    Nico Rogner
    • Helmut Kolleas Helmut Kolle
    Françoise Lebrun
    Françoise Lebrun
    • La mère supérieureas La mère supérieure
    Hélène Hardouin
    • La propriétaireas La propriétaire
    Serge Larivière
    Serge Larivière
    • Duvalas Duval
    Léna Breban
    Léna Breban
    • Soeur Margueriteas Soeur Marguerite
    • (as Léna Bréban)
    Sandrine Bodenes
    • Marie-Louiseas Marie-Louise
    • (as Sandrine Bodènés)
    Muriel Riou
    • Bertheas Berthe
    Dominique Pozzetto
    • Anatole Duphotas Anatole Duphot
    Josette Ménard
    • La bouchèreas La bouchère
    Xavier Pottier
    • Le boucheras Le boucher
    Jean-Pascal Abribat
    • Le journalisteas Le journaliste
    Anne Benoît
    • Madame Delongeas Madame Delonge
    • (as Anne Benoit)
    Corentin Lobet
    Corentin Lobet
    • L'interneas L'interne
    • Director
      • Martin Provost
    • Writers
      • Marc Abdelnour
      • Martin Provost
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Since the film's release, the number of visitors at the museum of Senlis exhibiting Séraphine's works has quadrupled (August 2009).
    • Goofs
      Wilhelm Uhde is portrayed as having a goatee beard throughout the course of the film. Portraits of him show generally a clean-shaven man or one with the small moustache.
    • Crazy credits
      The credits list the names of the paintings which are seen in the film - 10 paintings by Séraphine and the artworks owned by Uhde and Kolle.
    • Soundtracks
      Consonent laudes!
      Written by Louis Rousseau

      Performed by Yolande Moreau, Françoise Lebrun and Léna Breban

    User reviews32

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Polished enchantment
    Cinema is a language of deception. The set we see, the mise-en-scene, is what the director wants us to see. Conditioning us visually before an actor even speaks their lines. In costume dramas, the historical clothing is a further weapon to impress a specific artistic vision on us, further cloaking any subtext, whether the transformation of a marriage market story into 'rom-com' (Pride & Prejudice) or consciously travestying the past (Moulin Rouge!, Marie Antoinette). French cinema has achieved respected and less controversial use of costume with films like Jean de Florette and Manon des sources. In these examples, beautiful, nostalgic settings were contrasted with dystopian visions of the hard life. When we move to the biopic, cinematic techniques are routinely used to persuade us of 'what really happened.' Séraphine continues the proud French tradition of costume and historical drama, yet in a very accessible vein. It tells the (true) story of a minor French painter, Séraphine Louis (later known as Séraphine de Senlis, after the village where she lived.) Our story picks up Séraphine working as a maid for Madame Duphot. This lady of the house also rents an apartment to a German art critic-dealer, Wilhelm Uhde. Uhde believes in the 'primitive' artists and takes a liking to some of the maid's work he spots. Yolande Moreau's assured performance gives weight to what may be an unvarnished account. The discovery of the peasant woman's talent, her humble charm as she goes about collecting the ingredients for paint (wine, mud, fruits, flowers) as she goes about her chores as a domestic servant. Everything draws us sympathetically into Séraphine's world.

    Udhe nurtures Séraphine's embryonic talent, ensuring it is seen worldwide. But as war hits the economy, support evaporates. Séraphine's inner voices of inspiration lead her to psychosis and she meets her demise in an insane asylum.

    The painting itself is of the so-called 'naïve' style, characterized by childlike simplicity. (One of the most famous exponents, according to some, is L. S. Lowry.) The style seems natural to the childlike (if brilliant) personality of our peasant woman, although of course many naive art painters, including Lowry had, unlike Séraphine, plenty of schooling and formal knowledge of art technique.

    Production values in the film are high all round. Costume, acting, direction, all achieve a high standard, as evidenced by the many awards heaped on it in its own country. The overall effect is touching without being sentimental.

    Séraphine is a continuation of one woman's barely recognised legacy. Any subtext is about serving up a fine character from France's past, a commemoration of national greatness from the early 20th century. (Visits to the exhibition of her work in Senlis have, predictably, quadrupled since the release of the film.) If there is any ideological weakness, it is simply that held by the character herself, a Christian attitude of sacrifice and acceptance of fate. There is no strong judgement on whether Séraphine could have lived her life differently. No real analysis of her painting style. It is, after all, a classy and enchanting fairy tale hung on the hook of a historical person, a harmless deception perhaps. The viewer, should she or he wish, can make their own judgement. Just as they can on the deeply religious and fairly distinctive artworks she left for posterity.
    helpful•19
    4
    • Chris_Docker
    • Sep 8, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1, 2008 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Belgium
    • Official sites
      • Cinéart (Belgium)
      • Climax Films (Belgium)
    • Languages
      • French
      • German
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Séraphine
    • Filming locations
      • Cathédrale, Senlis, Oise, France
    • Production companies
      • TS Productions
      • France 3 Cinéma
      • Climax Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €3,674,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $884,613
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $38,637
      • Jun 7, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,402,702
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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