SeraphineSeraphine is the story of Seraphine Louis aka Seraphine de Senlis (Yolande Moreau), a simple and profoundly devout housekeeper who in 1905 at age 41, self-taught and with the instigation of her guardian angel began painting brilliantly colorful canvases. In 1912 Wilhelm Uhde (Ulrich Tukur), a German art critic and collector - he was one of the first collectors of Picasso and champion of naïve primitive painter Le Douanier Rousseau - discovered her paintings while she worked for him as a maid in his house in Senlis outside Paris. A moving and unexpected relationship develops between the avant-garde art dealer and the visionary cleaning lady leading to SeraphineâÂÂs work being grouped with other naïve painters â the so-called âÂÂSacred Heart Paintersâ - with acclaimed shows in France, elsewhere in Europe and eventually at New YorkâÂÂs MOMA . Martin ProvostâÂÂs poignant portrait of this now largely forgotten painter is a testament to the mysteries of creativity and the resilience of one womanâÂÂs spirit. A sleeper hit in France last fall, SERAPHINE went on to a surprise win of the Best Picture and Best Actress for Yolande Moreau along with five other awards at the Cesars - the French Academy Awards.
