I claim that some films need to be watched while slowly getting drunk - like Jarmusch's Dead Man, or Rivette's 4 hour version of La Belle Noiseuse.This film is not afraid of art, which makes it stand out over most other films that have a similar subject. The filmmaker immerses himself into the process much like Frenhofer does. He is not scared to show the actual creating of a sketch, or the finding of a pose for the model.Rivette also captures the very particular lifestyle of Southern France, something that I feel is a bit endangered in today's economy dominated European Union.

Relationship rich, this story revolves around a young couple who's man, Nicolas, agrees to let his woman, Marianne, be the nude model for a friend's hopeless and hapless attempt to make his long sought masterpiece he was unable to finish 10 years ago. Nicolas' relationships with the painter, the painter's wife (Liz), Marianne and later his sister are affected and deteriorate. Meanwhile the painter and his subject become entranced in an artistic and metaphysical dance.Relationship with the painter and his wife slowly unravels until it explodes. Will it stabilize or severe their bond? Also the interplay between the painter's wife and Nicolas, the painter's wife and Marianne, Marianne and her sister-in-law, etc. are all exquisitely explored with tense writing, intimate and beautiful cinematography as well as daring directing.At almost 4 hours and divided into two parts, the first part focuses on process of painting (and can be painful for limited attention-span people) while the second part reveals the fleeting purpose and puts people, art and life in context. The images and words are hard not to remain with you after viewing and sense of increase sensitivities to living. The screenplay is sublime with sparks of genius, genuine life glimpses and poetic prowess. Transfixion, transformation, transgression...Jacques Rivette has made his masterpiece regardless if his protagonist did or not. The subtext and unanswered questions add to the mystery.Life naked, complex, like the model or actress. Beautiful. Art is born.

I mostly enjoyed the experience of watching this film. I had an afternoon to kill. It was snowy outside but it was warm cozy and quiet inside. I had the few days off before so I was in a relaxed and comfortable in my comfortable cozy house.It is about a middle-aged and financially comfortable "Artist" living in beautiful surroundings. He doesn't need to paint to earn a living and apparently he needs to do very little in general. He has the ability to spend long periods of time doing nothing but indulging in his art. When the screen is not filled with images of a beautiful naked girl, it is filled with images of the idealized self-imagine of the artist< or would-be artist, as "Artist". One cannot but help draw parallels with the director himself. At that point in his career, established, comfortable and few practical limits on his ability to wallow in his "art". Although it has all the props of artistry and we are left of believe the artist has suffered for his art, the end product is merely pretty with no real tension or original insight. This film is to cinema what Kenny G is to Jazz. If you are in the right mood, you may find it pleasant to have on in the background while reading a book.

A retired painter picks up his brush after meeting a woman that he wants as his model for an elusive masterpiece. This film is literally like watching paint dry, as the viewer is subjected to watching a number of portraits being drawn or painted from start to finish. It's interesting to watch the creative process the first couple of times, but becomes somewhat tiresome after a while. There isn't enough material to sustain the extensive length, but the filmmakers deserve credit though for keeping it mostly interesting despite the three-hour running time, although the ending is unsatisfying. There are good performances from Piccoli and Beart.