Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- serious
- melancholic
- intimate
- art house evening
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film handsomely mounted and visually refined, with strong performances from Natascha McElhone and Anthony Hopkins, but divided over its conventional treatment of Picasso’s abusive relationships and uneven writing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Françoise Gilot’s decade-long relationship with Picasso supplies the primary lens for examining his fame, relationships, and private behavior.
Picasso’s celebrated creativity is presented alongside his selfishness, infidelity, egotism, and damaging treatment of women close to him.
Gilot continues painting, maintains her humor and independence, and ultimately finds the strength to leave Picasso.
The film employs elegant, spare color accents and carefully recreated period settings to evoke Picasso’s artistic milieu.
Films like Surviving Picasso, and why
Camille Claudel
period biographical drama centered on an artist’s intimate relationships, with polished production design and conflicted romantic dynamics
Jefferson in Paris
elegant Merchant Ivory period drama about a powerful male figure, emotional dependence, and a woman seeking autonomy
Modigliani
romantic biographical drama examining artistic genius, infidelity, and the cost of intimacy
The End of the Affair
literary period drama about a woman negotiating a damaging relationship with an admired, egotistical man
Movie Details
- Director
- James Ivory
- Release Date
- 1996-09-04
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (109)
Cast
- Anthony Hopkins
- Natascha McElhone
- Julianne Moore
- Joss Ackland
- Joan Plowright
- Dennis Boutsikaris
- Peter Eyre
- Peter Gerety
- Susannah Harker
- Jane Lapotaire
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Surviving Picasso about?
- A young painter’s decade with Pablo Picasso becomes a difficult education in love, artistic identity, and the strength required to remain herself.
- What is Surviving Picasso like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Surviving Picasso as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Surviving Picasso violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Surviving Picasso.
- What did critics think of Surviving Picasso?
- Critics broadly found the film handsomely mounted and visually refined, with strong performances from Natascha McElhone and Anthony Hopkins, but divided over its conventional treatment of Picasso’s abusive relationships and uneven writing.
- Which films are like Surviving Picasso?
- Films with a similar feel include Camille Claudel, Jefferson in Paris, Modigliani, and The End of the Affair.
- How long is Surviving Picasso?
- Surviving Picasso runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Surviving Picasso?
- In United States, Surviving Picasso is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
