Synopsis:
Paris 1880, Auguste Rodin aged 40, finally receives his first State commission: he creates The Gates of Hell, composed of figurines. Some of these will become his most famous works, such as The Kiss and The Thinker. He shares his life with Rose, his lifelong partner, when he meets the young Camille Claudel. His most gifted student, she quickly becomes his assistant, then his mistress. A decade of passion, mutual admiration, and complicity ensues.
Following their break up, Rodin continues to work relentlessly. He faces both rejection and enthusiasm provoked by the sensuality of his sculptures, and with his Balzac, rejected during his lifetime, creates the undeniable starting point of modern sculpture.
Thoughts:
Vincent Lindon is a brilliant actor and is given another chance to shine – and shine he does. Unfortunately the rest of the production let’s him down. The film plays out as a series of events, many repeated, that take far too long to lead anywhere or provide any significance. There’s a hint of a interesting story in there but it feels like for all Jacques Doillon’s good intentions, he focussed on the wrong thing.
Rating:
4/10