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In his first period biopic with a big star, unflinching French auteur Bruno Dumont ( L’Humanité ) shows no compromise. That’s thanks in large part to Juliette Binoche’s magnetic portrayal of the titular sculptor, who was institutionalised by her brother. “This is female exploitation,” she rages, rightly: Claudel did not belong in an asylum, a fact stressed by Dumont’s controversial but careful use of disabled non-professionals in support roles.
What emerges is a demanding but hypnotic, probing portrait of an artist denied her art, by a director in total command of his.
Kevin Harley is a freelance journalist with bylines at Total Film, Radio Times, The List, and others, specializing in film and music coverage. He can most commonly be found writing movie reviews and previews at GamesRadar+.