The Artist's Wife

I couldn't help but think of the movie The Wife as I watched this film. I think I preferred the scenario of that one over this, in terms of the wife's "rescuing" of her husband's career. It just pains me to see a woman satisfied with the lack of recognition. I think I've had my fill of egocentric "brilliant" artists who suck all the air out of the room. I'd like to see this story line fade into the past.

About getting old, Alzheimer's, love, being rich & spoiled, but in seeing this I think of & compare to the billions who suffer short lives w/disease & poverty. Priorities. Paintings shown were a lot of cheap splotches of rectangles. Better to hire any number of real artist's like the clavadetcher consortium of struggling artists.

This was an interesting topic and good acting let down by a blandness and lack of style, it made me wonder how a French or Italian filmmaker would have tackled it, probably with some style and pace, rather than this torpid outing, which would just about be ok for a weekday matinee. It was also spoilt by the insistent and overloud soundtrack, which seemed designed to tell us, the audience, what we should feel at any point as the script was not going to do that.

I had the opportunity to see this film at the PSIFF and what a great choice. The story is heartfelt and the acting is heart wrenching and amazing. Lena Olin's performance jumps off the screen and tugs at your emotions. Bruce Dern is top notch as always. The story is ultimately about love, family, and sacrifice. If you get a chance to see it, go.

Tom Dolby wrote and directed a sensitive, moving drama about an artist, Claire Smythson (Lena Olin) who put her own ambitions on hold to manage her artist-husband's career (Richard, played by Bruce Dern).

Now, at the end of her husband's brilliant artistic journey, Claire is faced with managing his Alzheimer's disease, which is at its beginning phases. She has no real support system and realizes (without ever feeling sorry for herself) that she's largely on her own. She asks for very little -- and the few people that exist in her life (mostly associates of her husband) don't exactly offer.

Knowing what lies before her, Claire is selfless, dedicated and determined to make things right with Richard and his estranged daughter, Angela (born from his first marriage). Angela also has a son, Richard's grandson, but she is going through her own challenges (a divorce) and has little bandwidth or desire to deal with her father, with whom she's never had a relationship anyway.

Olin is a superb choice for Claire given her reputation for delivering consistent authentic, truthful performances. Olin's connection with Claire is flawless (along with the skilled direction of Dolby, who integrates Jeff Grace's gorgeous soundtrack with equal skill). The music features a fantastic piano solo during one of the film's climactic moments, when Richard destroys the living room furniture. It's one of those scenes where the music assumes a supporting character.

Watching Claire's attempt to create joy in tough circumstances, only to face setbacks and disappointment, is often heartbreaking, but also a bit inspirational (without being overly sentimental). In a couple of lovely scenes, Claire reveals she still has a sense-of-humor even while facing more questions than answers.

Claire reaches out to Angela without being heavy-handed, rather as woman to woman. Claire also connects with Angela's son with a natural sensitivity. She doesn't believe in forcing herself on anyone, always preferring to connect on a basic, human level. Claire never has a hidden agenda She's simply trying to navigate tough waters the best she can without being a martyr.

Throughout all of this, Claire struggles to keep what's left of her life with Richard together, and the two share challenging moments, peppered with lovely remembrances of their decades-long marriage. The film is Claire's story, but of course, can't be told without understanding the roots of her clear love and devotion for Richard, and Dern naturally delivers. Richard has moments of rage and honesty as he has lost any toleration for anything slightly artificial. He doesn't care what people think, but we also realize he didn't achieve his fame without playing the game. But, those days are clearly gone.

Dern gives viewers a glimpse into the type of man he was, even though his current self is unpleasant, awkward, and selfish. The film ends with Claire's ultimate love letter to Richard as she helps him deliver his last art show with dignity. This is a love story, well-written, beautifully directed, and superbly acted.