Camille Claudel 1915

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Freely inspired by the works and letters

of Paul Claudel,

the letters of Camille Claudel, and the

medical records of Camille Claudel.

Originally from Villeneuve in the Aisne,

Camille Claudel is a sculptress,

born in 1864, the sister of the writer

Paul Claudel, who is 4 years her junior.

Student then mistress of Auguste Rodin

for 15 years, until 1895 when she left.

In 1913, after the death of her father,

and after 10 years spent reclusively in

a workshop in Quai

Bourbon in Paris, her

family admitted her,

for mental problems,

to the hospital at Ville Evrard near

Paris, then to the south of France,

to an asylum in the Vaucluse.

1915, Montdevergues

Asylum, near Avignon.

Miss Claudel, please.

Come on, we'll run a bath.

You are too dirty.

Come and have your bath.

It will do you good.

No fuss today, Miss Claudel.

Here.

You are always dirty. You need to wash.

Come.

Every time it's the same.

Here.

See this completely dirty hand,

Miss Claudel.

And it soothes you.

Miss, what are you doing here?

You are not with the others?

Return with the others. Miss Claudel!

Doctor, please.

Miss Claudel has the authorization to

prepare meals.

Because of the fear of being poisoned.

Oh dear. It's wet.

My ears...

I can lunch in the courtyard?

Yes.

Miss Claudel...

could you care for Miss Lucas?

Come.

Thank you

What are you doing?

You're watching me cry?

What's going on?

Thank you, Miss Claudel.

OK, Miss Claudel?

Come on, I'll walk you to your room.

Miss Claudel...

Miss, what happened in the kitchen

this morning?

Was told

you threatened to slap the intern.

He doesn't know the risk he runs

He tried to take me.

I've the right to make my meals,

like you said.

Yes.

You have the authorization,

but it is exceptional.

This is for your good

I know.

Anyway, some good news for you

Saturday.

Your brother, Paul Claudel...

will come to visit you.

Thank you

Thank you

My God... My God...

I want nothing else than to be in

a house nearby.

My little Paul

Make it end...

find my dear labor

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.

God's Glory and all His saints.

He prayed for His saints...

Five apostles arrived in Bethlehem...

to save Jesus.

There was Rome, the Romans,

the time of the Romans...

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah...

Madame Danielle,

you will get into trouble.

You shouldn't stay here.

What are you doing there?

You have nothing to do in the school.

Hallelujah.

That's it. You're all there?

The meal is ready; you can enter.

Place?? yourselves there, please

Come on, now.

Fine. Bravo.

Here.

Come with me, please.

Come, Miss.

About the meals for next week -

three residents less.

Very well, my sister.

Miss, do not be afraid.

Nobody here wants to poison you.

Miss?

What's your name?

Blanc.

You...

You'll post a letter for me in the

village, in secret?

You have an address where I can

send the letter from?

My mother's:
the Widow Blanc...

Tour Philippe-le-Bel,

Moriere-les-Avignon.

Thank you

My dear Henrietta

This is very far away as I write.

No longer my cute

little studio in Paris.

Since I was abducted from my place...

I often tried to communicate with you.

But I'm watched night and day,

like a criminal.

Do not know if this letter will

reach you.

I was interned at Ville Evrard...

then, under the pretext of war,

at Montdevergues, near Avignon

I've suffered to be torn

from my studio...

to be locked in these horrible houses.

My cousin Charles tried to get me out...

but since then I haven't any

more news.

Dear Henrietta

if you could give me news of you...

and your children,

you'd make me happy

Do not talk of my letter,

I have some trouble.

If you want to answer me,

use this address:

Widow Blanc...

Tour Philippe-le-Bel,

Moriere-les-Avignon.

This person was good enough to help me.

Send?? a large envelope to

this address...

with another inside,

smaller, and in my name.

Accept my very sincere wishes

to you and your dear children.

Paul tells me that he comes on Saturday.

I'm not desperate to get out

of here one day.

So, Miss? How are you today?

There is a delivery for me?

No. Today, we have nothing for you

Well, my sister. I entrust you.

Miss.

So, Miss?

How are you?

How are things going?

I'm here without knowing why.

How long will it last, this joke?

Longer still?

I'd like to know.

I am incarcerated as a criminal.

Worse.

No lawyer...

nor my family want to help me

out of this hell.

I am deprived of freedom...

fire...

food and basic amenities.

It's made me into what you want.

Even my parents abandoned me.

They respond to my complaints by...

complete silence.

This is awful, to be abandoned

in this manner.

Cannot resist the

grief that overwhelms me

Mum and my sister...

have kidnapped me in a most

comprehensive fashion.

No letter, no visit.

They stake a lot that I'll

never get out of here.

They take my legacy...

So you blame me?

Having lived all alone?

Having spent my life with cats?

They have a mania of persecution.

These fine gentlemen pounced on me...

to seize all my works...

and let me spend as long as

possible in prison.

They are eager to turn this poor woman

who'd be for them a living accusation

an annoying phantom of their crime

If there is no danger, they do not

let me out.

It's Rodin who has this in his claws.

It's Rodin who used them to seize

my workshop.

He holds them in his claws...

they cannot move

without his permission.

For a long time, it was fixed...

in such a way that I could not...

dare leave the house.

As soon as I was absent,

gentlemen came home...

searched in my books and

took my sketches.

It's Rodin, preparing to do the same job

He found in them accomplices

and an excuse.

Please do what you can to free me.

I have no intention of claiming.

I'm not strong enough for that

I live in my corner,

as I have always done.

The life I lead here does not suit me.

This is too hard for me.

Sorry to tell you so frankly.

Yet...

your relationship with Rodin...

stopped 20 years ago.

Fine.

We'll see you next week, Miss.

Miss Pierre, we must return.

Miss Pierre?

Not

Miss.

No!

Miss Pierre...

Hello, Miss Claudel.

Miss Lucas.

Miss Lucas, do you want

Miss Claudel to come with us?

You'll just walk with us, Miss Claudel?

Come on, come with us.

Come walk.

Come with us.

Lift the feet, please.

Raise the feet well.

We'll soon be there, Miss.

Come on, ladies.

You'll get there soon.

This is very good.

Sing with me.

Come on, we're going home.

Look where you put your feet

You know the text by heart.

Now want your

gestures.

Avery gallant Don Juan...

and Miss Charlotte a little wary.

Go.

Hello, Mrs. peasant.

Don Juan, your gesture.

Gallantly.

Charlotte, step back a little.

There. Perfect.

Hello, Mrs. peasant.

Hello, Sir.

From where do you come?

From the village.

What's your name?

Charlotte.

Don Juan.

, Don Juan

Start again.

Hello, Mrs. peasant.

Hello, Sir.

From where do you come?

From the village.

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