I was not aware of the life or work or artist Charlotte Salomon before seeing the incredible film Charlotte, but it awakened me to seek out her art and to wrestle with the story of her short life and the evils of racism. Animation was the perfect vehicle to tell this adaptation of her life story as she communicated through her own art. The film manages to capture that beauty so incredibly. I was transfixed throughout and devastated both by the enormity of her contribution in such a short time, and with the horrors of her final days.
The film doesn’t shy away from the difficult aspects of her story which I won’t discuss here so as not to take away their power for audiences who, like me, was not overly familiar with her. It bravely embraces all of her humanity and that of those around her. But it also leaves you itch a sense of joy for what she was able to leave behind and for what she was able to live during her lifetime.
Charlotte is a gorgeous film that never once loses its audience. And despite all the heartbreak the film gives you a sense of wonder and gratefulness for the spirit of his woman and what she accomplished.
Charlotte
Starring: Keira Knightly/Marion Cotillard, Jim Broadbent, Brenda Blethyn, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, Helen McCrory, Sophie Okonedo, Mark Strong
Directors: Eric Warin, Tahir Rana
Writers: Erik Rutherford, David Bezmozgis
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