Renoir

I attended the French movie, "Renoir."  It is about Pierre Auguste Renoir who lived in France From 1841 to 1919.  The movie takes place in 1915 during WWI at the estate of Renoir on the Mediterranean coast.  He moved there due to his severe Rheumatoid Arthritis that kept him in a wheel chair and with bound hands to hold a paint brush.  He has three sons, two at war, and one young son, about 13, who lives on the estate and doesn't attend school...a free spirit that comes in and out of the scenes. 

Renoir is most concern about his son Jean who was reported injured and eventually comes home to recuperate.  Meanwhile, a beautiful young red headed damsel has been hired as Renoir's new model.  He loved to paint nude women...almost obsessed with skin... and this beautiful Andree is painted while she enchants both father and son.  She is played by Christa Theret.

We learn that after the war, Jean made movies, marries Andree who stars in his movies during their 10 year marriage.  Jean eventually moves to Beverly Hills and makes movies for Hollywood.  He died in 1979 and donated the painting below of him by his father to the L.A. County Museum where I viewed it today.

"Jean, as a Huntsman," 1910 (age 16)