The biographical film "Being Salvador Dali" is released in Russia, which is based on facts from the life of the legendary artist. The director was Mary Harron ("American Psycho", "The Client Is Always Dead"). The main role was played by Ben Kingsley, known for such projects as "Schindler's List", "Shutter Island", "The Doctor: Avicenna's Apprentice", "Slevin's Lucky Number".
The action in the cinematic version of the life of the famous painter begins in 1974, when Dali and Gala come to New York. A young guy named James Linton, who works in one of the museums in the United States, where the Dali exhibition is to be held soon, gets the opportunity to become a personal assistant to the artist. James joins the circle of the flamboyant creator and becomes for him "Saint Sebastian", according to Dali himself.
Despite the fact that everyone, young and old, revere Salvador Dali for his work and very extravagant behavior, power in the art world, like the life of the painter himself, belongs entirely to the love of his life and the muse Galya, whose image on the screen was embodied by Barbara Zukova ("Veronica Decides to Die", "Explosive Blonde").
They met in 1929, when Gala was the wife of the poet Paul Eluard. Soon she left her husband and began to live with Dali. The artist's beloved was not only a source of his inspiration, but also a PR manager, as well as a nanny. Partly thanks to Gala, the world learned about Salvador Dali and began to idolize him. However, in the 1970s, the relationship of the once passionate lovers changed. Gala had numerous romances with young men, to which the artist turns a blind eye, and Dali himself has a new muse in the person of model Amanda Lear.
Gripped by violent emotions, a sense of past youth and fear of death, the creator increasingly prefers parties and balls to drawing, surrounding himself with young people, businessmen and popular musicians such as Alice Cooper.
James falls into this crazy "Deliland", which, as he himself describes, looks like another planet, and dissolves into it. He admires the opportunity to follow the work of the idol, attend his dinners and learn about his youth firsthand. Together with Dali, the hero will visit both Spain and France. But soon their paths will diverge because of a small scandal. Again, "Saint Sebastian" and Salvador Dali will see each other only in 1985, after the death of Gala and the fire.
Mary Harron with special respect reflected part of the life of the Spanish artist on the screen, showing, perhaps, one of the most critical stages of his existence. Dali, who is on the verge of death, tries to enjoy every minute. He is young at heart, still shocking, mad in a good way, but tormented by hobbies and distancing Gala, who, in turn, believes that the adored painter is no longer needed as it was before, and therefore desperately seeks to become a source of strength, inspiration and love for someone again. In the plot, real facts from Dali's life prevail over fiction, which is a great advantage of the film project.
- © Still from the movie "Being Salvador Dali" (2022)
The most impressive element of the film is Ben Kingsley's performance, which stunningly displayed all facets of Salvador Dali's character, including a tendency to narcissism and a need for everyone's attention, bordering on self-abasement and dependence on his soulmate. Kingsley completely takes possession of screen time and the love of the viewer, just as Dali himself attracted the eyes of everyone around. Emotionally, the artist looks very convincing - especially catching the final frame of the tape, in which Ben Kingsley's hero looks out the window, and his eyes are filled with tears and deep sadness for a bygone life.
Ezra Miller also did a good job as a young Salvador Dali. His image is different from the creator that Kingsley embodied. The young painter appears more eccentric, passionate and in love, as well as even more dependent on the opinion of his Gala.
James Linton, played by the young actor Christopher Briney, is presented as a naïve art lover and a big fan of Salvador Dali, for whom the time spent next to the creator becomes the best in his life.
The artist turned out to be very harmonious in his image and turned out to be the perfect "Saint Sebastian" with his appearance - a childishly cute face and curly hair. Whether James actually existed in the life of Salvador Dali is unknown. The artist liked to give his admirers metaphorical nicknames and called many "Saint Sebastian". It is likely that the character is the personification of all of them, and it is also possible that his image serves as a reminder that the painter patronized the saint, often reflected on him and wrote treatises. Plus, the image of St. Sebastian was one of the most popular in art - many artists have repeatedly depicted him on canvases.
From a visual point of view, the film looks very stylish - Dali's gourmet dinners and parties are remembered for their brightness and neo-originality; Guests dressed with a needle attract attention with outfits and accessories, but even they fade against the background of the appearance of the creator: we must pay tribute to the costume designers, I want to consider all the images of the painter in detail - they are so unusual and thought out, which, by the way, emphasize the creative spirit of the person who wears them. This looks especially contrasting against the background of discreet, albeit stylish outfits for those times by the artist's assistant James.
There are several explicit scenes in the tape. In one of them, the artist, obsessed with sudden inspiration, draws a series of paintings, using prints of the buttocks of young girls. This, at first glance, insignificant episode is an important element for understanding the madness and genius of Dali. By the way, naked bodies in the picture flash infrequently, and all such moments are fully justified by the plot.
The overall atmosphere is complemented by beautiful and extraordinary music written by experimental composer Edmund Butt.
Viewers of the film get the opportunity to immerse themselves in the philosophy behind all of Dali's work, and feel, and maybe even understand, the madness that made him so attractive, and his paintings unique and fascinating.