Port Washington, NY – Both praised and condemned, Austrian painter Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) pioneered sexuality in art through his paintings, murals and sketches. At the height of his fame, Klimt, one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau movement, received the prestigious Golden Order of Merit from the Austrian Emperor and had wealthy patrons flocking. However, personal tragedies and artistic and political turmoil over his work’s explicit sexuality led to a darker side, and he died at age 55. Acclaimed director Raúl Ruiz (Time Regained), who has made his share of provocative films and who also trained as a painter, tells the artist’s story in the captivating film, KLIMT, featuring an outstanding performance by 2-time Oscar-nominee John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons, Color Me Kubrick) in the title role. KLIMT will be available for art lovers and world cinema aficionados on January 8 complete with a making-of featurette, for $26.98 SRP.
Port Washington, NY – Both praised and condemned, Austrian painter Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) pioneered sexuality in art through his paintings, murals and sketches. At the height of his fame, Klimt, one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau movement, received the prestigious Golden Order of Merit from the Austrian Emperor and had wealthy patrons flocking. However, personal tragedies and artistic and political turmoil over his work’s explicit sexuality led to a darker side, and he died at age 55. Acclaimed director Raúl Ruiz (Time Regained), who has made his share of provocative films and who also trained as a painter, tells the artist’s story in the captivating film, KLIMT, featuring an outstanding performance by 2-time Oscar-nominee John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich, Dangerous Liaisons, Color Me Kubrick) in the title role. KLIMT will be available for art lovers and world cinema aficionados on January 8 complete with a making-of featurette, for $26.98 SRP.
Director Ruiz transports viewers to 1918 where Klimt lies on his deathbed, afflicted with syphilis. The artist’s feverish visions flashback to Paris’ 1900 World Exhibition where Klimt is awarded the gold medal for his work entitled “Philosophy,” and where he encounters the film magician, Méliès, the mysterious French dancer Lea de Castro (Saffron Burrows) and the “Secretary of State,” an oppressive fatherly figure who accompanies Klimt throughout the film like a shadow. Conveying the artist’s life through extraordinarily visual and musically brilliant cinematic allegory, KLIMT, called “ambitious,” by the Los Angeles Times, delivers a virtuoso homage to the legendary artist, womanizer and fin de siècle visionary.
Ruiz, who has made films with some of world cinema’s greatest talents, including Marcello Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Huppert, has, in addition to Malkovich, assembled a superb cast for KLIMT, which includes: Veronica Ferres (Les Miserables, Rossini) as Emilie Floge, the artist’s companion in the latter part of his life. British beauty Saffron Burrows (Frida, Deep Blue Sea, Reign Over Me) plays his sexually vibrant muse, the French actress/dancer Lea de Castro.
KLIMT is presented in 16x9 (1.78:1 aspect ratio) and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The film is in English, German and French with English subtitles (closed captioning is also available). Bonus features include an in-depth “Making-of” documentary featuring interviews with Malkovich and Ruiz, as well as the original theatrical trailer.
About KOCH Lorber Films
Dedicated to providing the best in award-winning, classic and contemporary international cinema, documentary features and cultural programming, KOCH Lorber Films is a market leader for high quality releases to both wide and specialized audiences through theatrical, television and home video distribution. KOCH Lorber Films DVD releases include: the classic films La Dolce Vita, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Tous les Matins du Monde and Un Coeur en Hiver and recent theatrical and festival hits such as Intimacy, The Five Obstructions, Save the Green Planet, The Syrian Bride and Changing Times. Visit KOCH Lorber Films online at www.kochlorberfilms.com.
