The Artist and the Model (El artista y la modelo) is a 2012 French/Spanish film directed by Fernando Trueba.
In 1943 France, the famed but disillusioned sculptor Marc Cros (Jean Rochefort) lives at a distance from people with only his wife Léa (Claudia Cardinale) and maid Maria (Chus Lampreave) for company. Hoping to revive the creative spark in her husband, Léa brings home Mercè (Aida Folch), a homeless young woman on the run from The Franco Regime, who agrees to work as the model for his next work.
Don't confuse with Artists and Models.
Tropes:
- Disturbed Doves: There's a shot of dozens of birds flying off in a fright when a gunshot is heard in one of the last scenes, implying that Marc has just killed himself.
- Drawing Straws: Some young boys draw straws to decide which one will go ask Léa about the naked girl in her and Marc's house.
- Driven to Suicide: In the film's final scenes, Marc picks up his rifle and then sits calmly with it on his lap. Then it cuts to a shot of birds in trees and a gunshot is heard. No more of Marc is shown and the film ends shortly; the implication that he decided to kill himself after completing his life's work is strong.
- Every Scar Has a Story: Mercè has multiple scars on her legs that the camera often focuses on. When Marc gets curious, she reveals that the scars are from her frequent treks across the mountains to help resistance fighters cross the Spanish-French border.
- I Was Quite a Looker: Marc's wife Léa (who is, incidentally, played by Claudia Cardinale) is stated to have been very attractive when she was younger and many artists besides Marc had her pose naked for them.
- The Muse: Marc has been in a slump for some time before the film starts, but then Mercè agrees to become the subject of his work and she does a good job of lighting his creative fuse.
- The Peeping Tom: The same group of boys who previously asked Léa about Mercè later hide near Marc's studio to try to see her naked. Mercè and Marc detect them and he chases them off with his rifle (he doesn't try to shoot them).
- Public Exposure: Marc's work primarily consists of female nudes in various positions and settings. Mercè is convinced to pose for him naked after some hesitation.
- La Résistance: The film takes place during World War II and Mercè and Pierre are members of the Spanish and French resistance movements, respectively.
- Run for the Border: Mercè is a resistance fighter whose specialty is helping people cross the Spanish-French border. She leaves Marc to help Pierre do so in the end.
- Skinny Dipping: Marc has Mercè pose naked in a river. While he works, she takes the chance to swim around for fun. She goes back later at night to do it again.
