New film by Halder Gomes brings drama amid the colors of the artistic world | Life & Art

“This color (red) has protagonism, desire, strength, vitality; an explosion, represents life. But, at the same time, it is an extremely fragile color, which if mixed with other colors, easily falls apart”, defines director Halder Gomes about the color that names and connects his new film, “Monet Red”.

The production premieres this Thursday, the 9th, and features as its main character the painter Johannes Van Almeida (Chico Díaz), a specialist in art on women’s bodies, who wants to gain good recognition in the market — something he never had.

When the artist finds his new muse in a foreign actress Florence Lizz (Samantha Heck Müller), who is also in a professional crisis, inspiration comes intensely. But he’s not the only one with eyes on the actress. The art dealer, Antoinett Léfèvre (Maria Fernanda Cândido), is also attracted to Florence.

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The director’s idea was to bring a drama “of human relations, where the artist is at the pivot of this universe”, as well as “all the existential questions of art between these protagonists”.

One of the existential questions brought up by Ceará is the condition in which the painter Johannes finds himself: he has achromatopsiaa disorder that affects the retina and interferes with the ability to see colors, also causing sensitivity to light and decreased vision.

Reflecting a fear of the filmmaker himself — who is afraid that one day he will no longer be able to paint or draw —, the film follows the urgency and anguish of the artist who has his own aggravated illness. “This desperation even leads him to look for other sensorial forms within the film”, he reveals.

The film brings references to artistic styles, such as Baroque, and symbolisms that have marked the history of art. This concept that gave the starting point for the script came from the personal interest that Halder has in the universe of visual arts. When the desire to delve deeper into the topic “overflowed”, he decided that he needed to make films about this “universe”.

“I really want to put on the screen other universes of painting that are part of this whole, which is still not enough for this film. I want to make a trilogy on screen, which addresses other subjects that involve art”, he says.

To bring Johannes to life, Halder chose actor Chico Díaz, a desire that had been with him since “Cine Holliúdy 2: A Chibata Sideral” (2018). “I was progressing with the script for ‘Vermelho Monet’ and I (thought): ‘Wow, Chico could be the painter’. But I wanted to see him as a painter in a character”, he recalls.

For the actor himself, it was “a joy” to have been chosen for the role of Johannes. “I paint too and him (Halder) taking me through the intricacies of a painter was uniquely beautiful”, declares Chico. And he adds: “I think he was one of the characters that most elevated me aesthetically and most challenged me to look for a real place in torment and beauty that he carries.”

Johannes Van Almeida, for the actor, represents well the side of the human being that is not just victorious or always happy, going further by showing a professional who is in “decline” and has a love story with his wife reflected on his new muse.

“He has a human instance that I am very interested in interpreting, which is this search for meaning in life and how to represent that meaning”, he says. “This parallel that we can make between the artist’s life and the need to express himself, the difficulties he has in it, and the achievements — is very interesting,” he continues.

In his view, human beings find in art the “true freedom and uniqueness” to express his worldview, despite the costs involved in each one, as the film represents. “A more authorial and thoughtful cinema”, is one of the ways in which Chico Díaz defines Halder Gomes’ new work. The director, in turn, corroborates this intention of provoking reflections on the film among the general public.

“As much as it has information that can deeply reach a guy who is a museum curator, he moves into an area where anyone will watch, understand, get involved and ask questions, because it is a film that provokes the thought”, concludes Halder.

“Monet Red”

• When: The film opens in theaters this Thursday,