Review of Camille Claudel 1915 (2013) by Barbara H — 15 Apr 2014

Camille Claudel, 1915 is a French drama that recounts a week of Claudel's life after she has fallen on hard times following her early years of artistic success and creativity and now finding herself hidden away in a reclusive countryside asylum.

Years earlier, Camille had been the celebrated protégé and (later) mistress of Auguste Rodin (the sculptor of 'The Thinker') and they also had a productive, artistic relationship. When it ended, it ended badly as Rodin was never going to leave his wife and things did not go well for Camille who took it all rather hard.

Years after the partnership had come to an end, she was still not "herself" and her brother had her admitted to an asylum in Avignon where she seems to always believe Rodin's men are plotting to kill her and her "loving" brother is close-by even though she has practically been abandoned by him.

Camille learns early in the film that her brother Paul is coming to visit her on the upcoming weekend and the film is ponderous and slow as nearly every scene captures Juliette Binoche (Chocolat) contemplating an optimistic future she cannot obtain in her present situation.

Her future life and happiness hinge upon that "loving" brother of hers who is coming to visit. Binoche captures the role well as the audience sees brief bursts of life and/or hope escape from this asylum resident who clearly does NOT belong where she has been put.

This is based upon a true story.