Review of Camille Claudel 1915 (2013) by Laurie T — 30 Jun 2015

A painful, sad account of Camille Claudel's last years. Much bleaker and more depressing than the 1988 account of her career and relationship with Rodin. Here we have barely a trace of her skill as a sculptor: she picks up a piece of wet earth and molds a figure before throwing it away in anger.

And she draws flowers on the borders of letters she sends to her devout brother and a longago friend. She is left in paranoia and misery in the midst of the inhabitants of an insane asylum in Provence.

This portrayal of the beautiful region will not encourage tourism. Convinced she is being poisoned, Camille lives on water and a daily potato she cooks herself. She helps with the other patients, who are portrayed by actual mental patients, which adds to the poignancy and tragedy of the movie.

Her priggish brother, a famous Catholic poet and playwright whose works I have never liked. Despite his faith, he shuts his sister away as he agonizes over his affair with a married woman. He is continually lecturing everyone and not listening to anyone.

His clothing is well cut and he drives a glossy automobile. The actual Claudel visited Camille only seven times in 30 years. She didn't have a chance.