Helene Schjerfbeck and Artemisia Gentileschi: The Lives of Two Extraordinary Artists Told on Screen

With “The Painter and the Thief” (the amazing documentary about the friendship between the Czech painter Barbora Kysilkova and the thief who stole two of her most valuable works) in Spanish cinemas from February 5, Filmin will extend next week its catalog with two new proposals on two key female figures in the history of painting: the biopic «Helene» (February 12) and the documentary «Artemisia Gentileschi, painter warrior» (February 10). »Was one of the biggest successes in Finnish cinema this season. Directed by Antti Jokinen, director of “The Perfect Victim” and countless video clips by artists such as Beyoncé, Celine Dion or Thalía, it is a dramatic biopic about the life of the naturalist painter Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946), especially known for her realistic canvases and self-portraits. The film focuses on the unfortunate love story she had with Einar Reuter, a young and passionate admirer, 15 years her junior, who ended up being her confidant and biographer. The romance, never confessed by Helene, took a tragic turn when the young man decided to marry another woman. The painter was never able to fully recover from such disappointment. “Helene has always been spoken of as a tormented, weak and abandoned artist,” says Jokinen: “I disagree. In researching her history, I discovered a strong, uncompromising, funny and honest woman; that is to say, the perfect character for a drama ». The film, starring Laura Birn (“Games People Play”), stands out especially for its beautiful photography, by Rauno Ronkainen.THE FIRST FEMINIST ARTIST IN HISTORY For its part, “Artemisia Gentileschi, warrior painter” is a documentary directed by Jordan River that focuses on the life of what many consider one of the most important painters in history. Disciple of Caravaggio, Artemisia (1593-1654) signed portraits of female characters such as Bathsheba, Judith or Cleopatra, in which feminist features have been read. “Not only does it pretend to be a biographical tale, but in a way it is also an academic work, providing theoretical means for both the expert and the novice,” says director Jordan River, who has served as a cinematographer with the Spanish Raquel Abellán, Doctor in Cultural Studies and Feminine / Queer Visual Arts from the Miguel Hernández University (Elche). When she was 18 years old, Artemisia was raped by her teacher, and friend of her father, Agostino Tassi, an event that is considered which influenced both his life and his painting. “I really wanted to make this film to be able to show the inner world of an artist, to get into the heart and mind of a woman who was sometimes struck by life,” concludes River.