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The Mystery of Picasso

In 1955, director Henri-Georges Clouzot ("The Wages of Fear") joined forces with his friend Pablo Picasso to make an entirely new kind of art documentary - one that captured the moment and the mystery of creativity. For the film, the master created 20 artworks - ranging from playful black-and-white sketches to widescreen colour paintings. Using inks that bled through paper, Picasso rapidly created fanciful drawings that Clouzot was able to film from the reverse side, capturing their creation in real time. When the artist decided to paint in oils, the filmmaker switched to colour film and employed the magic of stop-motion animation. By contract, almost all of these paintings were destroyed when the film was completed. "The Mystery of Picasso" is exhilarating, mesmerizing, and unforgettable. It is simply one of the greatest documentaries on art ever made. The French government agrees - in 1984 it declared the film a national treasure.

Year: 1956
Genre: Documentaries, Art and Artists on Film, Art On Film, General Docos
Country: France
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Starring: Pablo Picasso
Duration: 75 Minutes
Rating: Ex
Subtitles: Yes
Location in store: Documentary (Art on Film)

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