I sat enthralled, attempting to suppress my vocalised "Wow" at the opening of this most amazing film. How wondrous when mists of steam, or clouds in sky, or swirls of snow create an image of that Steamboat, which I think it was (?) on film. A 21st century play of light about a Romantic era moving to that of Impressionism during the early 19th century.
The introduction transfixed me; took me to the windmill at Walberswick where my grand-aunt and grandmother re-enacted their balancing acts, for they were not allowed by the turn of 19th to 20th century law to perform in the family circus... it was not the flat lands of Suffolk but the flat land of Holland. Such an amazing image for the commencement of the film.
The colour, the costumes, the characters, the representation of emotion in art and in artists, the story of a life and lives, was extremely well-conceived by the mind of Mike Leigh. BRILLIANT!
I heard the ancient English language, noted the French translation at the base of the moving pictures, chuckled here and there in absolute delight, gasped at the brutality of man with woman, marvelled at the sets of sea, coast, art studio and art gallery, contemplated how J.M.W. Turner revered his female cousin and used other women for his everyday human needs.
What brilliant actors and actresses and all those who worked to create such pleasure for the audience.
I loved the music... reminiscent of Benjamin Britten and Aldeburgh... wistfully, hauntingly moving us through the landscape of emotions, of romance, of lust, of leaving an impression of history and art, true art, art that is difficult to aspire to, the true art of genius.
Turner was interested in how sun, the sun that is God, created light, the physics of colour. He played with pigment to express light in and on his canvases, his 'toiles' were like 'étoiles dans le ciel'. He experimented with making paints to daub his canvases, to paint nuances of darkness and light in sea, sky, steam, cloud and weather. He also wished to present Humanity and Architecture in his work but increasingly his work became more atmospheric. He explored techniques to transfer what he saw onto what could be seen forever, but some of the patina and colour in his paintwork has faded over time. He wanted the public to have free access to his work after his death but unfortunately that hasn't necessarily been the case: his works were dispersed. He was in awe of invention, where camera captured image and portrait, where steam could push or haul vast engines to master the great outdoors, in a different way to that where Turner captured the spirit of invention anidst the natural world.
Other artists portrayed at the Royal Academy spoke to us using the language that art and artists sometimes use .... but I prefer to look and enquire how they achieved what they did and how the work of art speaks to the wonder of the viewer, how it appeals to those who look.
Evidently there is at least one error of history within the film...
Ah...and aha not even Mike Leigh is perfect! How I love his cinematography.
I loved this portrayal of an artist so much that I feel I could sit through the film again and again!
It was exciting and a pleasure to attend...to sit in the newly refurnished 400 coups cinema de Chatellerault. Thank you Mr Turner and Mr Leigh.
