Going to the movies has always seemed like an entertaining enough way to pass a Saturday evening. But with the onslaught of chain operations like Sony Theaters, the decision-making process involved in choosing a film worthy of your nine dollars has been reduced to debating between a romantic comedy _ which is no different from any other romantic comedy you've ever seen _ and a formula action flick.
This weekend, however, will be different from all the rest. The Brattle Theatre, Cambridge's haven for artsy and avant-garde film, will be showing The Mystery of Picasso, an intimate look at the creative process of one of the 20th century's most famous artists, directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Nearly 50 years old and unavailable for over a decade, the showing marks an area premiere reissue in new 35 millimeter print.
The 90-minute film is the result of the friendship between Pablo Picasso and Clouzot, best known for his horror films The Wages of Fear and Les Diaboliques. Picasso sits behind a transparent sheet of white paper while Clouzot films from the other side, capturing the artist as he creates nearly 20 works of art _ all of which were subsequently destroyed _ exclusively for the film.
The film follows Picasso as he paints on specially designed surfaces, allowing the camera to capture the unfolding of his creations. He uses a variety of mediums, creating works that range from simple black and white sketches to awe-inspiring CinemaScope murals. The musical soundtrack by Georges Auric, ranging from a full orchestra to a solo guitar or drums, adds depth and texture to The Mystery of Picasso.
The Mystery of Picasso was awarded the Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1956 and was declared a national treasure by the French government in 1984 _ not exactly the kind of movie you're likely to find at Loews Cinema. Tufts professor Judith Wechsler, also a filmmaker and an art historian, will be introducing next Tuesday's showing of the film. Wechsler believes that these kinds of films that stray from the mainstream are rare in the Boston area.
"In France you can go to dozens of independent cinemas to see a great range of work by filmmakers from all over the world. Here there are very few venues: the Brattle, the Kendall, and then the films scheduled at the Harvard Film Archive and the Museum of Fine Arts. If you want to understand and enjoy film as a form of art and entertainment, there is a world of films to be seen off the beaten track," she said.
Wechsler was approached by the Brattle to introduce the movie at the suggestion of a former student who had taken her course in art and film. While she was not directly involved the in the Brattle's decision to show The Mystery of Picasso, she is excited that this groundbreaking and original film has made its way to Cambridge.
"It is one of the earlier and best examples of using the medium of film to record an artist's process. In the case of Picasso, probably the best-known 20th century artist, one gets the sense of his tremendous
powers of metamorphosis of form, a great play of imagination," she said. In addition, because most of the works were destroyed after filming, The Mystery of Picasso is the only record of these paintings that exists.
Innovative in both content and style, Wechsler considers the film an invaluable learning experience for art students. "It is an important for students, especially students of art and art history...to get some insight into a major artist's way of working and also to see what the medium of film can contribute to our understanding of painting."
This limited engagement of The Mystery of Picasso is the chance of a lifetime, not only for art aficionados but moviegoers as well. It's an opportunity to give yourself a break from the profit-driven mainstream movie and check out a film about more than special effects and stunt doubles. It captures the creative experience of art and elegantly transforms it into the language of film, making it impossible not to appreciate its significance as a work of art unto itself.
@thumbnail:The Mystery of Picasso, The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Harvard Square. Showing Mar.2- Mar. 8 at 4:15, 6, 7:45, 9:30, Sat. and Sun. matinees at 2:30.
