Surviving Picasso (1996)

Set in the artistic tumult of 1943, the vibrant yet piercing narrative of "Surviving Picasso" unveils the complex world of Pablo Picasso (Sir Anthony Hopkins), a man already standing at the pinnacle of global artistic fame. Crossing paths with this legendary figure is a promising young painter, Françoise Gilot (Natascha McElhone), who becomes ensnared in a decade-long liaison with Picasso, surrendering not only her love but also bearing him two children. As Picasso's muse and confidante, Gilot paints within his sphere, her creativity forging a symbiotic dance with his. Yet, beneath this colourful façade, she begins to unravel the tapestry of Picasso's past relationships with women such as Dora Maar (Julianne Moore), Marie-Thérèse (Susannah Harker), and Olga Koklowa (Jane Lapotaire), each bearing deep emotional scars from their time with the celebrated artist. Intriguingly, Gilot's approach is not to shy away but to absorb and integrate these experiences into her relationship with Picasso, crafting a unique, immersive perspective on life with this enigmatic figure. The question then arises - how does one survive Picasso? The film, "Surviving Picasso", unfolds this compelling answer. It is through her relentless passion for painting, her resilient sense of humour, and her undying quest for independence that Gilot navigates the tempestuous waters of life with Picasso. Her strength is further underscored when the time arrives for her to break free, revealing her as the only lover who possessed the fortitude to endure Picasso's daunting cruelty and move on, thus adding a poignant depth to this passionate Merchant Ivory drama.

Surviving Picasso is a drama movie featuring Anthony Hopkins and directed by James Ivory.

Surviving Picasso is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.

It is also possible to buy Surviving Picasso on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.