Artemisia (1997)
Directed by Agnès Merlet

Film Review

In her historically accurate biopic Artemisia, writer-director Agnès Merlet presents a vivid account of the early life of Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1653), who is renowned as the first important woman artist in western art.   The style of this singular artist is evoked in the film's striking cinematography, which shifts from the supremely melancholic to the wildly optimistic, in sympathy with the changes in mood of the film and its characters.

Despite the masterful camera work and very commendable acting, the film is let down by some dreadful moments of sentimentality and self-importance.    The rape scene - the film's linchpin and raison d'être - fails to evoke any kind of response and is poorly executed, whilst Artemesia's subsequent reaction to the apparently life-changing event appears shallow and unconvincing.  Indeed, the power of this part of this film is effectively neutered by the ambiguity in Artemisia's relationship with her teacher, being neither naïve girlish fancy or full-blown love.  From that point on, the film has no momentum, little conviction, and rolls on towards its conclusion without any sense of purpose.   Doubly disappointing when the film starts so well, and pretends to offer so much.

Film Synopsis

Italy in the early 1600s.  Artemisia Gentileschi is the 17-year-old daughter of a well-known painter and shows something of her father's aptitude for art.  The society in which she lives does not encourage her to be an artist, but her father Orazio trains her as best he can to follow in his footsteps.  An edict that prevents women from painting nudes frustrates Artemisia's artistic development and this causes her to nurture an obsession for male anatomy.  Her father's collaborator Agostino Tassi adopts her as his pupil and through his influence Artemisia acquires a love of painting out of doors.  All too soon, the relationship between master and pupil develops into carnal passion.  The spectacle of Tassi making love to his daughter incenses Orazio and he arranges for his former friend to be tried for rape...