Foreign film recommendation - on Florence Academy's 1st female art student

[October Reader]

"Artemisia" - French film made in 1998 available from Netflix.

Fascinating, dramatic, and, scandalous for the prudish. Depictions of tricks of the trade in that era were absolutely intriguing. People who enjoyed "The girl with Pearl earing" will probably like this one too.

Here is the write up on Netflix:
The 17th century is no place for a budding female artist -- even for Artemisia Gentileschi (Valentina Cervi), the teenage daughter of one of the most revered Italian painters. Barred from fully practicing her art, she finds a tutor -- and a lover -- in painter Agostino Tassi (Miki Manojlovic), who was later tried for her rape. Based on actual events, the film received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.

[Terri Ficenec]

October, Thanks for posting this! I'll have my husband add it to our Netflix list. . . didn't realize they'd made a movie out of it, but I've read the book and it was really interesting.

[Sharon Knettell]

I loved, loved, loved, it! Much more interesting than the FX flicks that are swamping the theaters. Fast moving, informative, sexy and fun.

[October Reader]

Terri, what's name of the book you read on Artemisia? What style of writing is it? Thanks! Just wondering if I should add it to my Christmas 2006 wish list. I know, my poor husband!

[Terri Ficenec]

The book was "The Passion of Artemesia" by Susan Vreeland. They've got it at Amazon.com along with an excerpt of the beginning of the book that you can read to get a sense of the style.

It looks like they've got 2 different Artemisia books there. Haven't read the other one.

[Mike McCarty]

I watched this film last night (VHS from Blockbuster rental). In my opinion it was far and away better than "Pearl Earing." Much more substantive and all those blushing things that I am much too shy to mention.

I know we can't show nudes but can we talk about them?