Cézanne's Victory (Jacques Deschamps, 2006)

Paul Cézanne took time to find himself, following a long and difficult quest for his artistic identity. This documentary seeks to unravel the legend surrounding the painter: how did he go from being a cursed artist, destroyed by critics, to a master and father of modern painting? How did the popular image of the singular artist, a "contemplative monk" withdrawn to his mountain until he became one with it, come to be? To shed light on the mystery, Jacques Deschamps analyzes the stages of the artist's life during a stroll through the exhibition that opened at the National Gallery in Washington last January. We discover, in particular, the secrets behind the creation of some of the master's paintings, such as The Card Players; we follow the fascinating comparison made between the canvases and the real landscapes that inspired them. Guided by admirers of the painter, his great-grandson, and especially the curators of the "Cézanne in Provence" exhibition, we delve into the heart of the artist's work. Directed by: Jacques Deschamps Written by: Jacques Deschamps Cinematography: Octavio Espirito Santo Sound: Frédéric de Ravignan, Olivier Schwob Editing: Luc Forveille Original Music: Grégoire Hetzel Sound Editing: Nicolas Bouvet-Levrard