Review of Renoir (2012) by E Quique B — 29 Sep 2013

Set in 1915 on the idyllic and beautiful Riviera coast of the Cote d'Azur region of France, Renoir is the story of a young woman sent to the house of the celebrated Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir to serve as the 74-year old painter's new muse.

The wheelchair bound artist suffers from severe arthritis and has very limited mobility and he is looked after by a large number of maids and nurses who keep his household going which includes a young son who has become jaded and reluctant to accept new comers to the house.

Shortly after Andree's (the muse) arrival, Renoir's older son, Jean, returns home from the war as he has been injured and needs to convalesce. Andree and Jean bond over a variety of topics and conversations while both express a deep respect for the artist and his work.

Jean feels a duty to serve his country and fight for what is right; but he also has a keen interest in early motion pictures and he'd like to be able to spend more time with Andree. The elder invalid worries about his son and grows to care for his muse as well .

.. wanting love and peace to reign in his house. The film is very slow-paced and it may feel (to some) as if one is actually watching a painting as some scenes linger on minimal action as Renoir paints his subjects .

.. and the audience observes. The film gives little in biographical information on either Renoir ... and it seems to be more "her" story than either of theirs although there are a couple of great father-son scenes in the film in which she is not included.

The photography in Renoir is stunningly beautiful ... but it is a green and orange coastal France. The film is always pretty to look at but I don't think it will keep everyone's interest. Renoir (Sr.

) was a highly respected artist while his son became a celebrated director ... but this film only very briefly gives us pieces of each of these men. Even after watching Renoir ... we don't really know either of them.