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12 July, 2012

Modigliani - Love, Nonsense & Life

Modigliani, not looking well, 1919.

Amedeo Modigliani (July 12, 1884 – January 24, 1920) has been the subject of a couple of feature movies.  Mostly, they cover his love life, which lacked no drama.  I take that back - the more recent flick is also very much about the artistic process.  Critics and the public hate it, but I loved it.  The metaphor of his grand premier compared to a bloody mugging in the snow is rich, and I liked the way he consulted his boyhood self from time to time.  


Watching the 1958 film, Les Amants de Montparnasse, in French, is a nonsensical treat for me, since I don't understand the language.  


Happy Birthday, Modi.  


Here is a You Tube of his paintings streamed to some music with an Italian title about love's consequences.  I like to watch these with the digital projector on the big screen.  Maybe some of his great style and visual grace will rub off on me.









5 comments:

  1. Casey you are a man after my own heart. I adore Modi too. I have been trying to find the right film to add to my blogsite as well. Funny isn't it? I am one of very few that like the latest film with Andy Garcia..(swoooooon)I think I will just go ahead and stay up with you on this one!! teehee. I will add a clip from that movie. :)
    But before I do that I will watch your films.

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  2. I'm glad you commiserate on the movie, Laura! We're into two Netflix movies that have to finished, but then I am going to look for the 1958 one to see all the way through. The one scene in the classroom is copied in the latter movie, I noticed.

    The movies I am watching now are The Pianist (Brody) and The Mill and The Cross. A report will follow on that one - it is great.

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  3. OH, I will check those out too, Casey! Thanks.

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  4. I have a dog-eared book of Modigliani paintings. I have been lucky enough to see and original at Art Basel down here two years in a row, a double portrait by Modigliani - it is magnificent. What's great about the first video is there are many more paintings I haven't seen. I think the geometry of his backgrounds are amazing, and love how he elongates even the hands.

    Loved the classroom scene - I wanted to see his drawing of her!

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  5. If I find the full movie, I will link it here, Dan.

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