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(More customer reviews)This is a modest little film about a humble and down-to-earth woman, Sister Jacques-Marie, who became a nun early during her acquaintance with Matisse. Originally hired to be his night nurse, she remained his close and loyal friend until his death. Their friendship was the catalyst for the chapel at Vence, which for its time was revolutionary in its modernity and unconventionality. Conducted mostly in interview style, the film remains visually exciting by dwelling lingeringly on Matisse's lovely drawings and the many wonderful details of the chapel. Although Matisse was not overtly religious, the chapel demonstrates the extremes of his devotion; begun when he was in frail health at the age of 75, for him it was a deeply spiritual and utterly consuming passion to which he devoted his remaining years. He left no detail unconsidered, even designing the colorful vestments to be worn during mass. Matisse suffered considerable criticism over the chapel, Sister Jacques-Marie was oppressed for years by her superiors in the convent, and they were both pilloried by the press. Yet in the end they derived enormous satisfaction both from the chapel and from their friendship. A delightful and inspirational exploration of a fascinating friendship.
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{Winner! Best Documentary Avignon/New York Film Festival}{Winner! Best Film for Television Int'l Festival for Films on Art}Monique Bourgeois was a 21-year-old nursing student and amateur artist living in Nice when, in 1941, she answered an ad placed by Henri Matisse seeking "a young and pretty night nurse." From this humble beginning a beautiful friendship developed between one of the twentieth century's greatest artists and the woman who inspired him to create what Matisse proclaimed the masterpiece of his life's work: The Chapel of the Rosary in the French Mediterranean village of Vence. Monique originally posed for Matisse and accepted his guidance on her own artistic forays. Their paths crossed again during World War II when Matisse took refuge in Vence, situated twenty miles inland from Nice. Monique joined the order of Dominican nuns and was sent to Vence herself. Now called Sister Jacques-Marie, she inspired Matisse to move from "color to architecture" and he responded by turning his dream of constructing a chapel into reality.A Model for Matisse documents the story's personal and historic aspects, presenting Matisse's never-before filmed hand-painted gouaches and fabrics as well as a rich collection of photographs and archival footage of the aged Matisse working on the Chapel's ceramics.
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