La belle noiseuse
1991 · Movie · 238 min · ★ 7.3 · 95% critics
A retired painter living quietly in the French countryside is stirred back to work when a young artist visits with his girlfriend. He decides to revive an unfinished masterpiece and asks her to model, leading to long, intense studio sessions that test boundaries and shift the balance within both couples.
Based on Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu
Also known as The Beautiful Troublemaker · The Little Nuisance
Where to watch
Streaming on MUBI, Cohen Media Channel and Fandor.
4 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Original title
- La Belle Noiseuse
- Years
- 1991
- Release date
- 1991-09-04
- Language
- French
- Runtime
- 238 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (292 votes)
- Box office
- $403,056
About
If you enjoy patient, immersive dramas about art, obsession, and shifting relationships, this can be deeply rewarding; Not for you if you want a brisk story, clear answers, or light entertainment like Stranger by the Lake or Out 1.
Pros: absorbing creative process; tense relationship dynamics; hypnotic slow-burn mood | Cons: extremely long runtime; minimal plot movement; frequent nudity may distract
Themes
- countryside
- provence
- eroticism
- painting
- artwork
- country estate
- painter
- drawing and painting
- man woman relationship
- taxidermist
Awards & recognition
- Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix · 1991
- César Award — Best Actress · 1992 · nominated
Cast & crew
Michel Piccoli
as Edouard Frenhofer
Emmanuelle Béart
as Marianne
Jane Birkin
as Liz
Marianne Denicourt
as Julienne
David Bursztein
as Nicolas
Gilles Arbona
as Porbus
- MB
Marie Belluc
as Magali
- MR
Marie-Claude Roger
as Françoise
- LR
Leïla Remili
as La servante
- DG
Daphne Goodfellow
as Une touriste
Directed by Jacques Rivette