Camille Claudel, 1915

Freely inspired by the works and letters of Paul Claudel,

the letters of Camille Claudel, and the medical records of Camille Claudel.

CAMILLE CLAUDEL 1915

Originally from Villeneuve in the Aisne, Camille Claudel is a sculptress,

born in 1864, the sister of the writer Paul Claudel, 4 years her junior.

Student then mistress of Auguste Rodin for 15 years, until 1895 when she left.

In 1913, upon the death of her father having spent 10 years as a recluse

in her studio on Bourbon Street in Paris, she is confined by her family, first to

the Ville Evrard mental hospital near Paris, then to the south of France,

to the Montdevergues Asylum in the Vaucluse.

1915, Montdevergues Asylum, near Avignon.

Miss Claudel, please.

Come on, we'll run a bath.

You are too dirty.

Come and have your bath. It will do you good.

No fuss today, Miss Claudel.

Here.

You are always dirty. You need to wash.

Come.

Every time it's the same.

Here.

See this completely dirty hand, Miss Claudel.

And it soothes you.

Miss, what are you doing here?

You are not with the others?

Return with the others. Miss Claudel!

Doctor, please.

Miss Claudel has the authorization to prepare meals.

Because of the fear of being poisoned.

Oh dear. It's wet.

My ears...

I can lunch in the courtyard? Yes.

Miss Claudel...

...could you care for Miss Lucas?

Come.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

You're watching me cry?

What's going on? Thank you, Miss Claudel.

OK, Miss Claudel?

Come on, I'll walk you to your room.

Miss Claudel...

Miss, what happened in the kitchen this morning?

I was told...

...you threatened to slap the intern.

He doesn't know the risk he runs.

He tried to take me.

I've the right to make my meals, like you said.

Yes.

You have the authorization, but it is exceptional.

This is for your good.

I know.

Anyway, some good news for you:

Saturday.

Your brother, Paul Claudel...

...will come to visit you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

My God... My God...

I want nothing else than to be in a house nearby.

My little Paul...

Make it end...

I find my dear labor.

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.

God's Glory and all His saints.

He prayed for His saints...

Five apostles arrived in Bethlehem...

...to save Jesus.

There was Rome, the Romans, the time of the Romans...

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah...

Madame Danielle, you will get into trouble.

You shouldn't stay here.

What are you doing there?

You have nothing to do in the school.

Hallelujah.

That's it. You're all there?

The meal is ready; You can enter.

Place yourselves there, please.

Come on, now.

Fine. Bravo.

Here.

Come with me, please.

Come, Miss.

About the meals for next week - three residents less.

Very well, my sister.

Miss, do not be afraid.

Nobody here wants to poison you.

Miss?

- What's your name? - Blanc.

You...

You'll post a letter for me in the village, in secret?

You have an address where I can send the letter from?

My mother's: The Widow Blanc...

...Tour Philippe le Bel, Morieres-les-Avignon.

Thank you.

My dear Henriette,

This is very far away as I write.

No longer my cute little studio in Paris.

Since I was abducted from my place...

...I often tried to communicate with you.

But I'm watched night and day, like a criminal.

I do not know if this letter will reach you.

I was interned at Ville Evrard...

...then, under the pretext of war, at Montdevergues, near Avignon.

I've suffered to be torn from my studio...

...to be locked in these horrible houses.

My cousin Charles tried to get me out...

...but since then I haven't any more news.

Dear Henriette...

...if you could give me news of you...

...and your children, you'd make me happy.

Do not talk of my letter, I have some trouble.

If you want to answer me, use this address:

Widow Blanc...

...Tour Philippe le Bel, Morieres-les-Avignon.

This person was good enough to help me.

Send?? a large envelope to this address...

...with another inside, smaller, and in my name.

Accept my very sincere wishes to you and your dear children.

Paul tells me that he comes on Saturday.

I'm not desperate to get out of here one day.

So, Miss? How are you today?

There is a delivery for me?

No. Today, we have nothing for you.

Well, my sister. I entrust you.

Miss.

So, Miss?

How are you?

How are things going?

I'm here without knowing why.

How long will it last, this joke?

Longer still?

I'd like to know.

I am incarcerated as a criminal.

Worse.

No lawyer...

...nor my family want to help me out of this hell.

I am deprived of freedom...

...fire...

...food and basic amenities.

It's made me into what you want.

Even my parents abandoned me.

They respond to my complaints by...

...complete silence.

This is awful, to be abandoned in this manner.

I cannot resist the grief that overwhelms me.

Mum and my sister...

...have kidnapped me in a most comprehensive fashion.

No letter, no visit.

They stake a lot that I'll never get out of here.

They take my legacy.

So you blame me?

Having lived all alone?

Having spent my life with cats?

They have a mania of persecution.

These fine gentlemen pounced on me...

...to seize all my works...

...and let me spend as long as possible in prison.

They are eager to turn this poor woman...

...who'd be for them a living accusation...

...an annoying phantom of their crime.

If there is no danger, they do not let me out.

It's Rodin who has this in his claws.

It's Rodin who used them to seize my workshop.

He holds them in his claws...

...they cannot move without his permission.

For a long time, it was fixed...

...in such a way that I could not...

...dare leave the house.

As soon as I was absent, gentlemen came home...

...searched in my books and took my sketches.

It's Rodin, preparing to do the same job.

He found in them accomplices and an excuse.

Please do what you can to free me.

I have no intention of claiming.

I'm not strong enough for that.

I live in my corner, as I have always done.

The life I lead here does not suit me.

This is too hard for me.

Sorry to tell you so frankly.

Yet...

...your relationship with Rodin...

...stopped 20 years ago.

Fine.

We'll see you next week, Miss.

Miss Pierre, we must return.

Miss Pierre?

Not I.

- Miss. - No!

Miss Pierre...

Hello, Miss Claudel.

Miss Lucas.

Miss Lucas, do you want Miss Claudel to come with us?

You'll just walk with us, Miss Claudel?

Come on, come with us.

Come walk.

Come with us.

Lift the feet, please.