French Film ‘The Painting’ Brings Sketchy Characters to Life at SAMA

Fri 8/5
The Painting


Visit any artist’s studio and you’ll likely be privy to an unfinished project or two, some of which may never be fully resolved. An artful exploration of that limbo-like state of affairs, French writer/director Jean-François Laguionie’s animated film The Painting (Le Tableau) brings to life a colorful crew of characters in varying stages of completion. Distinguished by a vintage sensibility and an orchestral score by Pascal Le Pennec, the film follows an unlikely trio of friends as they leap from the canvas into a series of other paintings in search of the maker who’s mysteriously abandoned them. On the surface a simple story surrounding star-crossed lovers Clare and Ramo, The Painting slyly addresses tolerance and classism through the dynamics between the self-righteous Alldunns, uncolored Halfies and roughly rendered Sketchies — a scorned breed some would prefer to erase. SAMA screens the English-language version of the 2011 film as part of its outdoor Family Flicks series. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnics welcome. Free, 8:20pm Fri, San Antonio Museum of Art, West Courtyard, 200 W. Jones Ave., (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org.