La belle noiseuse tells the story of a famous painter who has retired but agrees to return to work to paint Marianne (Emmanuelle Béart), the young and sensual companion of an emerging artist. In the silence of the studio, between increasingly intimate poses and exhausting sessions, a physical and mental confrontation charged with erotic tension takes shape, where the model’s naked body becomes both an instrument and an obstacle to inspiration. Emmanuelle Béart plays Marianne with courage and naturalness, posing in very long scenes that seem to take place in real time. The film lasts about four hours and shows the artistic process uncut, thanks to the real drawings of artist Bernard Dufour. Jacques Rivette’s direction abandons traditional narrative rhythm to confront the viewer with the obsession of the creative process. Awarded the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes, it is considered a monumental work on art, nudity, and the male gaze.
The first nude scene occurs at the 71st minute. Emmanuelle Béart takes off her dressing gown and stands totally naked in front of the painter, who begins to make preparatory sketches. At 84 minutes, the naked actress is sitting on a stool, leaning forward, posing for more sketches. She is tired and the painter dismisses her. Emmanuelle undresses for another session seven minutes later. At 98 minutes, the actress is in a different pose, standing, leaning slightly forward with her hands resting on a stool. Nine minutes later, the girl is smoking a cigarette lying on the sofa in the painter’s studio. She is wearing a dressing gown. The man approaches her, turns her onto her side and removes her dressing gown. Emmanuelle Béart then poses naked lying on a wool blanket on the floor. The next pose is on a wooden bench, which is rather uncomfortable for the girl. Emmanuelle Béart naked is a fabulous sight, and at the 117th minute, a series of scenes begins in which she poses naked in various positions, one after the other. On a stool, on a leather armchair, on a chaise longue, on a blanket. At the 153rd minute, Emmanuelle takes off her robe and shows us yet another full-frontal nude, then lies down on a white sheet. The actress poses a couple more times, then there are no more nude scenes in the last half hour of the film.
The first nude scene occurs at the 71st minute. Emmanuelle Béart takes off her dressing gown and stands totally naked in front of the painter, who begins to make preparatory sketches. At 84 minutes, the naked actress is sitting on a stool, leaning forward, posing for more sketches. She is tired and the painter dismisses her. Emmanuelle undresses for another session seven minutes later. At 98 minutes, the actress is in a different pose, standing, leaning slightly forward with her hands resting on a stool. Nine minutes later, the girl is smoking a cigarette lying on the sofa in the painter’s studio. She is wearing a dressing gown. The man approaches her, turns her onto her side and removes her dressing gown. Emmanuelle Béart then poses naked lying on a wool blanket on the floor. The next pose is on a wooden bench, which is rather uncomfortable for the girl. Emmanuelle Béart naked is a fabulous sight, and at the 117th minute, a series of scenes begins in which she poses naked in various positions, one after the other. On a stool, on a leather armchair, on a chaise longue, on a blanket. At the 153rd minute, Emmanuelle takes off her robe and shows us yet another full-frontal nude, then lies down on a white sheet. The actress poses a couple more times, then there are no more nude scenes in the last half hour of the film.
