Revelatory and exciting documentary of the artist at work. Claude Renoir, grandson of the famous impressionist, Auguste, is behind the camera and Les Diaboliques director Clouzot in charge of operations. A new technique has been discovered whereby the pair can film through a transparent without seeing the painter the other side. So, for the first thirty minutes or so we see black & white sketches appear before our very eyes. they are of varying quality and interest and magical though the process is, it becomes a little waring. It is like a giant Etch a Sketch or watching Rolf Harris back in the day transform a couple of squiggles into something a little more. It comes a s a great relief to then be over the shoulder of Picasso as he creates and far more interesting to see him poised before making his seeming random strokes and to feel much more involved with the whole process. Eventually the screen widens and we are experiencing the full cinemascope effect as the artist applies oil paint as well for the first time and we watch open mothered as in time lapsed photography truly inspiring works appear before us in full colour. Essential viewing although it has to be said that the earlier Visit to Picasso (1949) showing the artist working through glass must have been a most substantial influence. In any event if some of the works that appear before us, seemingly at some speed, are not of the highest order, to see the artist create so keenly, in such a needy and almost greedy manner is most informative and such a pleasure.
Review of The Mystery of Picasso
