Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22320 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-06-03
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Running time: 98 minutes

Video Details
A widely acclaimed critical favorite honored with a Golden Globe nomination as Best Foreign Language Film, ARTEMISIA is the highly provocative true story of a young woman whose bold pursuit of artistic freedom and physical desire threatened the elite powers of her time! Artemisia Gentileschi, the beautiful and talented daughter of one of Italy's greatest painters, is forbiden to fully pursue her own passion for painting. When she convinces a renowned and unconventional artist to tutor her, however, he not only liberates her in the world of art, but initiates her into the treacherous world of sex and love! Following the controversy of a theatrical release that saw the original NC-17 rating overturned on appeal, Miramax Films is proud to present this important and powerful motion picture complete and unedited!

Review
The historical romance Artemisia is a lushly photographed costume docudrama about the controversial 17th century painter Artemisia Gentileschi. By choosing to focus on her teenage years, loss of virginity, and romantic entanglements with her instructor, the story bypasses her personal artistic struggles for the melodramatic mixing of art and passion -- a choice that has continually been used to devalue women artists in general. The first half of the film is at its best, with the young Artemisia (a headstrong and determined Valentina Cervi) in numerous voyeuristic opportunities, like spying on lovers on the beach and peeking into a brothel. These scenes effectively show the creative impulses of a budding Renaissance painter making attempts at learning her craft, as well as that of a sexually curious young woman. However, the second half becomes bogged down in the relationship between Artemisia and Tassi (Miki Manojlovic), evading the story of her own creative drive. Spoken in French about an entirely Italian subject, director Agn�s Merlet provides more than a few historical inaccuracies to the benefit of the melodrama. Though it makes for a compelling story, the film's trial diverts from the real-life transcribed rape trial, and coats the topic with a mutually loving teacher-student relationship before any suggestion of rape is made. For such a historically important figure, Artemisia misses the opportunity to make a unique portrait of an artist and pioneer in the face of repression, becoming instead a wonderful bodice-ripping romance. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

On the DVD
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
English subtitles
Widescreen [1.85:1] enhanced for 16x9 televisions

Customer Reviews

Much less than I expected
I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that the film's inaccuracies hurt it's credibility. I also found the overall film quality ( art direction, costumes, etc. ) to be good but not great. However, I enjoyed the depiction of the tools and techniques employed by painters of that era.

But perhaps the most offensive aspect of this film is the way in which it demeans woman artists. As someone who graduated from art school in the 1970's, I can attest to the the almost total neglect paid to the accomplishments of woman artists prior to the 1960's. One of the few exceptions that comes to mind is Mary Cassatt; and what credit she has been afforded is unfairly stigmatized by her " woman's " subject matter.

I bought this DVD because I'm a painter, and I had incorrectly assumed that this was going to be a more accurate telling of her remarkable life story. Frankly, I wish I had seen it first; I would have spent my money elsewhere.

Awful
I've always had a passion for foreign movies. I'm also an artist, so I thought this movie would be perfect for me. I must say I'm really disappointed. The plot is totally weak, the characters are portrayed as superficial and the actors are not good at all. I must say I haven't seen such a bad movie in a long time.

TALK ABOUT REWRITING HISTORY!!!
Maybe this is how someone thought the story should have been but anyone who has read anything about Artemisia Gentileschi knows that this was bogus work of fiction. However, it was a beautiful movie. It captured the spirit of a girl who probably had a soul akin to the artist, however this story was not the story of Artemisia. I think it is so strange that they even put her name as the title. This is the kind of thing that history professors create to trap all of the slackers who refuse to read thier history books and try to take the easy way out by renting the video. WARNING: READ YOUR HISTORY BEFORE YOU TAKE THE TEST- but enjoy the movie.