Film Facts:
Title: Awakening Apollo
Run Time: 85 Minutes
Director: Jerome Prieur
Year: 2004
Language: French
A lot of history can be observed through art. French documentary, Louvre Treasure: Awakening Apollo, directed by Jerome Prieur, shows French art history through the renovation of the Louvre Museum. It is fascinating how through time such a magnificent room of art could be created.
The entire Apollo room is full of paintings, sculptures, and architecture put together by different French artists from different times into one theme. As stated in an article from The Sunday Times, called "No Stone Unturned," the museum "contains a glittering array of two centuries of French art from Le Brun to Delacroix."Through viewing these paintings and restoration in this film, a lot can be learned about the French culture. The film focuses on the talent and pride of the French people. They strove for great art and based people's social status on how well they could interpret art. Even the way the film was shot shows the love for art by those who restored the museum and the director of the film. Close shots of broken pieces of sculpture and cracks in paintings bring feelings of sorrow for the beauty lost. But in contrast are shots of workers scrubbing, painting, and fixing artwork, showing hope of the beauty being restored. The music that was in the background during the shots of broken down art was very depressing and added to the intended mood of remorse.
What this movie showed me was that the French have a love for art that is unlike what I have experienced in America. The ornate images shown that were created over centuries were
awe inspiring. Since it is a French film about French art, transcultural representation is not an issue in this film. The way French art is depicted is the way it is and the attitude the culture has towards national art. I was drawn in by the beautiful colors in the shots and the attention to detail shown. Wide shots gave me the overall feeling of the entire gallery and close shots let me feel connected to the art and even the artists in a way. Prieur's depiction of this aspect of French culture is moving and inspiring.
Sources:
Louvre Treasure: Awakening Apollo
Pictures:
No comments:
Post a Comment