“Cézanne et Moi” traces the parallel paths of the lives, careers and passionate friendship of post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne and novelist Emile Zola.
The two boys grew up in Aix-en-Provence. Emile was fatherless and poor. Paul came from a wealthy family. As young men, dreaming of glory and beautiful women, they left the south to conquer the art scene in Paris.
Soon Emile had it all, success, money, and the perfect wife, and embraced the very bourgeoisie he mocked in his books. Meanwhile, Cézanne rejected the Parisian scene to focus only on his work, ignored by his peers and the establishment.
“The story has many levels to it and that’s what fascinates me,” said director Daniéle Thompson. “It’s about two friends who throughout their lives try to remain the childhood friends they once were, but no longer are. It’s as strong as a love story, if not more so. Like they say in the film, friendship is harder than love. Because there are no reference points, no rules or precise definitions. Stories of friendship can be very deep, painful and ambiguous too.”
“Magnificently manages to engage every sense. It looks and acts like an actual landscape painted by the 19-century French artist of its title.” — Susan Wiosczyna, RogerEbert.com
“A ravishing historical biopic.” — Bonjour Paris