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Savage Messiah

by Ken Russell

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Thoughtful, if intense chronicle of the platonic affair between sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, who died in World War I at age 24, and Sophie Brzeska.
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Although not as flashily stylistic and overtly flamboyant as some of his other works, "Savage Messiah" is still prime Ken Russell. The story is a loose biopic of Henri Gaudier (Scott Antony), the influential early 20th century French sculptor. Gaudier was given to grand gestures and grandiose statements and became involved in a strange artistic relationship with an older woman Sophie Brzeksa (Dorothy Tutin) who was given to her own wild artistic flights. Gaudier was killed in action in the First World War at the age of 24; his fame as a sculptor only being recognised after his death. The script by Christopher Logue is magnificent and seeks to get to the heart of the relationship between Henri and Sophie while launching blistering satirical attacks on the debasement of art. Russell uses Henri as something of an alter-ego pouring his own frustrations into the characterisation and into the wider milieu. He directorial approach is more restrained than usual but his creative energy, his use of sly symbolism and his use of subversive imagery is never far from the surface. The film has a number of stand-out sequences including a moving climatic sequence where Henri's death at the front is simply reported before Russell beautifully choreographs his camera to glide around a number of Henri's best-known pieces. This is expertly handled and brings out the nuances of the work, while serving as a heart-breaking tribute. The other stand-out sequence is probably the greatest nude sequence in all cinema when Henri's second muse, the sexual suffragette Gosh Boyle (Helen Mirren), ascends a staircase in all her naked glory. The design and construction of this sequence is simply magnificent and ranks amongst Russell's greatest visual moments. "Savage Messiah" is a masterpieces and ranks amongst Ken Russell's best works - it is striking, satirical, creative, compelling and a superb exploration of art and artistic expression. ( )
  calum-iain | Sep 6, 2018 |
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Thoughtful, if intense chronicle of the platonic affair between sculptor Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, who died in World War I at age 24, and Sophie Brzeska.

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