Russian Dolls ***1/2

Various languages, with English subtitles

Written and directed by Cédric Klapisch, Russian Dolls picks up where his 2002 comedy, "L'Auberge Espagnole" ended. The same characters are played by the same actors. Smart, sexy, educated young Europeans who have hit their thirties and are being to experience anxiety about their lives and love.

There are many interesting, playful uses of video editing employed that I enjoyed. I saw L'Auberge Espagnole, but didn't blog it, and had the same overall impression: Entertaining, but unbelievable.

See trailer HERE.

La Belle Noiseuse ****

French with English subtitles 1991

I saw this movie shortly after it was released to video stores in the U.S. and it has remained with me ever since.

The plot involves reclusive, retired painter who lives with his wife in a large château in the south of France. One day, a young artist and his girlfriend visit the aging painter. Somehow (I can't recall the details) the young woman agrees to model for the painter, who is inspired to resume painting. The movie documents the process of creating art more perfectly than I have ever seen in film before. It's arduous, long and painful and the director employs unbelievably long takes to show the painting emerge on the canvas. The movie is very long and slow, yet appropriate to the topic and plot.