Sleeping with a Tiger (2024) by Anja Salomonowitz: The Ageless Soul of an Artist

Short Summary: An Artistic Odyssey Through Time

Sleeping with a Tiger is a unique biographical film directed by Anja Salomonowitz that delves into the life and work of the influential Austrian painter Maria Lassnig. Rather than a conventional biopic, the film is a hybrid of fiction and documentary, using an unconventional approach to portray the artist's journey. The film explores her struggles in a male-dominated art world, her search for her own artistic voice, and her eventual, hard-won success.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30517551/

Link Review: https://www.berlinale.de/en/2024/programme/202404487.html

About movie: https://www.anjasalomonowitz.com/jart/prj3/salomonowitz/main.jart?rel=en&content-id=1705066068100&reserve-mode=active

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/de/Film/mit-einem-tiger-schlafen (Germany), https://www.justwatch.com/ch/Film/mit-einem-tiger-schlafen (Switzerland)

Detailed Summary: The Ageless Artist

• A Hybrid Portrait: The film seamlessly blends acted scenes with documentary elements to create a non-linear, impressionistic portrait of Maria Lassnig. Rather than following a strict chronological narrative, the film explores her life through a series of key moments and emotional states.

• The Constant Self: A central and most distinctive element is the casting of one actress, Birgit Minichmayr, to portray Maria Lassnig at every stage of her life. This bold choice defies traditional biopic conventions and serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the idea that Lassnig's core self remained constant, despite the physical and temporal changes of her life.

• Struggles and Success: The film explores Lassnig’s difficult childhood, her complex relationships, and her enduring struggle to be taken seriously as a female artist. It highlights her determination and stubbornness as she develops her unique style of "body awareness" painting, a style that was initially dismissed by the art establishment but would later earn her international acclaim.

Director's Vision: The Poetic Biopic Anja Salomonowitz's vision is to move beyond the traditional biopic and create a film that is an artistic expression of Maria Lassnig herself.

• Rejecting Convention: By casting one actress for all ages and blending genres, Salomonowitz actively rejects the clichés of the biographical film. She is not aiming for historical accuracy in a rigid sense, but rather a deeper, emotional truth about her subject.

• "Body Awareness" in Film: The director uses a similar philosophy to Lassnig's painting style, focusing on the inner life and emotional state of her subject. The cinematic choices, from the casting to the non-linear structure, are meant to be an artistic translation of Lassnig's mental state and her unique way of perceiving the world.

• Collaboration with the Subject's Work: The film is not just a story about Lassnig; it is a film that attempts to embody her art. By incorporating her paintings and her philosophy, Salomonowitz creates a film that is a homage to the artist's creative process itself.

Themes: The Body, the Soul, and Artistic Integrity

• The Ageless Soul: The core theme is that a person's inner self is timeless and does not age. The film argues that Lassnig, from a young girl to a 94-year-old woman, was the same person emotionally and psychologically.

• Feminism and the Male-Dominated Art World: The film is a powerful commentary on the struggles of a female artist in a world dominated by men. It highlights how Lassnig's work, which was deeply personal and explored her own corporeality, was ahead of its time and was often met with resistance.

• The Link Between Pain and Creation: The film suggests a deep connection between Lassnig's troubled childhood, her absent maternal love, and her artistic expression. Her paintings, with their bold colors and expressive forms, become a way for her to process her internal pain and experiences.

• Artistic Integrity vs. Success: The film shows Lassnig as a prickly and uncompromising figure who, even after achieving great success, remains steadfast in her artistic vision. Her defiance of the art market and her commitment to her own truth are central to her character.

Key Success Factors: A Daring Artistic Approach

• Birgit Minichmayr's Performance: Birgit Minichmayr's role as Maria Lassnig across all ages is a remarkable feat and a major success factor. Her performance is praised for its ability to capture the essence of the artist's personality, from her youthful stubbornness to her late-life wisdom, without relying on external tricks.

• Innovative Hybrid Format: The film's blend of fiction and documentary creates a unique and compelling viewing experience that sets it apart from other biopics. This form allows the director to explore the artist's emotional and creative world in a more profound way.

• Focus on the Interior Life: Instead of merely chronicling external events, the film successfully delves into Lassnig's internal struggles and motivations. This focus on her psychological and emotional state makes the film a more intimate and personal portrait.

• Honoring a Groundbreaking Artist: The film brings the story of Maria Lassnig, a figure who is considered a forerunner of feminist art, to a wider audience, solidifying her place in art history.

Awards and Nominations: A Critically Acclaimed Biopic Sleeping with a Tiger has been well-received on the festival circuit and has won several notable awards. The film's lead actress, Birgit Minichmayr, won the Best Actress award at the Diagonale festival. The film also won for Best Production Design and was recognized for Outstanding Production Services at the same festival. At the Austrian Film Awards, the film was a major winner, with Birgit Minichmayr once again taking home the Best Leading Actress award. The film also won for Best Score, Best Production Design, Best Makeup, and Best Sound Editing at the Austrian Film Awards, dominating the technical categories alongside The Village Next to Paradise.

Critics Reception: A Subversive and Poetic Portrait

• Cineuropa: The review from Cineuropa praises the film for its non-linear approach, stating that it "breaks with the traditional biopic while also keeping her subject an enigma." The review highlights how the film honors both Lassnig's "mesmerising pictures" and her "empowering accomplishments."

• Filmuforia: A review from Filmuforia calls the film "a new docudrama" that "raises the profile of Austrian avant-garde painter Maria Lassnig." The reviewer notes the film's "radical" approach and how it attempts to "flesh out" the concept of Lassnig's "body awareness" in her art.

• Overall Summary: The critical consensus is that Sleeping with a Tiger is a daring and successful deconstruction of the biopic genre. Critics praise Salomonowitz for her innovative approach and Birgit Minichmayr for her powerful and convincing performance. The film is seen as a thoughtful and poetic tribute to a complex artist, celebrating her fierce independence and unique vision.

Reviews: An Emotional and Artistic Homage

• Austrian Films: A collection of reviews from this site describes the film as an "exquisite portrait" and "a complex and multi-layered, extremely rich and fine feature film." A review from Der Standard praises the director for "skillfully thwarting narrative conventions and casually shaking off clichés," calling it a "superb Maria Lassnig biopic" for those tired of the genre.

• Overall Summary: Reviews generally concur that the film is a fresh and compelling take on the artist biopic. While the non-traditional format may challenge some viewers, it is widely seen as a testament to the director's unique vision and a fitting tribute to an artist who herself was a maverick.

Why to recommend movie: A Masterpiece of Cinematic Portraiture

• A Groundbreaking Biopic: This is not your typical biographical film. Its unique hybrid format and bold casting choice make it a fascinating study in cinematic portraiture.

• A Tour-de-Force Performance: Birgit Minichmayr's performance is a must-see. She masterfully embodies the artist at every stage of her life, proving her immense talent and versatility.

• An Artistic Deep Dive: The film is a poetic and visual experience that offers a deeper understanding of Maria Lassnig's art and her creative philosophy.

• Inspiring and Thought-Provoking: It tells the story of an uncompromising artist who fought for her place in the art world, making it an inspiring watch for anyone interested in art, feminism, or the creative process.

Movie Trend: Hybrid Cinema Sleeping with a Tiger is a prime example of the growing trend of hybrid cinema, where filmmakers blend different genres and formats, such as fiction and documentary, to create new forms of storytelling. This approach allows for greater artistic freedom and can often lead to a more nuanced and complex portrayal of real-life subjects.

Social Trend: Re-evaluating Female Artists The film follows a significant social trend of re-evaluating and celebrating the contributions of female artists who were often overlooked or marginalized in their time. It sheds light on Maria Lassnig's importance as a pioneering figure in feminist art, contributing to the broader conversation about gender equality in the art world and beyond.

Final Verdict: A Poetic and Unforgettable Tribute Sleeping with a Tiger is a powerful and unconventional tribute to a truly unique artist. Anja Salomonowitz has crafted a film that is as original and uncompromising as Maria Lassnig's own work. The film's daring artistic choices, combined with a mesmerizing performance by Birgit Minichmayr, make it a deeply moving and unforgettable experience. It's a film that demands attention and rewards a viewer's willingness to engage with its unique and brilliant vision.