Amy Polling's Photos
CATHERINE DENEUVE ~Les Bohèmes de Paris~ (acrylic on canvas/140x100/2012) “I feel love, Paris, Paris….. Love to love, Paris, Paris Feelings so close to my heart Barman dans le shaker, d'abord de l'élégance Un trait de Sacré-Coeur et deux doight de Doisneau Une Piaf, quelques moineaux et Joséphine Baker Là une de Prévert, mais sans raton-laveur Prenons un dernier verre pres Bateau lavoir Une Sinone de Beauvoir et deux singes en hiver Last night was made for love.. Oh, baby, just take my frozen hands and hear me say Don't let me turn to sand and blow away Though this crowded desert called Paris I feel love, Paris, Paris Love to love, Paris, Paris Feelings so close to my heart”…… French actress Catherine Deneuve, was born 22 October 1943 in Paris. She gained recognition for her portrayal of aloof and mysterious beauties in films such as Repulsion (1965) and Belle de jour (1967). Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in Indochine; she also won César Awards for that film and The Last Metro (1980). One of France's most renowned actresses, she has also appeared in seven English-language films, most notably the 1983 cult classic The Hunger. In 2008, she appeared in her 100th film, Un conte de Noël. Deneuve won a second César Award and received an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress for her performance in Indochine (1992), which also won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Deneuve is one of the distinct few to receive an Oscar nomination for a non-English speaking role. Her other significant films were André Téchiné's Ma saison préférée (1993) and Les Voleurs (1995). In 1997, Deneuve was the protagonist in the music video for the song N'Oubliez Jamais sung by Joe Cocker. In 1998 she won acclaim and the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival for her performance in Place Vendôme. In 1999 Deneuve appeared in five films, including: Est-Ouest, Le temps retrouvé, and Pola X. Her part in Lars von Trier's musical drama Dancer in the Dark (2000) alongside Icelandic singer Björk was subject to considerable critical scrutiny. The film was selected for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Deneuve's fourth and most recent American film to date was The Musketeer (2001). She shared the Silver Bear Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the Berlin International Film Festival for her performance in 8 Women (2002). In 2005, Deneuve published her diary A l'ombre de moi-meme ("In My Own Shadow", published in English as Close Up and Personal: The Private Diaries of Catherine Deneuve); in it she writes about her experiences shooting the films Indochine and Dancer in the Dark; and working with leading men such as Burt Reynolds, Jack Lemmon, Vincent Perez, William Hurt, John Malkovich, Alain Delon, Gérard Depardieu, and Marcello Mastroianni. In 2006, she headed the jury at the Venice Film Festival. She made another brief return to Hollywood with a guest-starring role on the FX TV series Nip/Tuck during its fourth season in November 2006. She also lent her voice to the Oscar-nominated animated feature Persepolis (2007). In 2008, she appeared in her 100th film, Un conte de Noël. That same year she was honored at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival for her contributions to European cinema. In 2010 Deneuve starred in the period comedy Potiche (2010). Her latest film is the musical Les Bien-aimés (2011) co-starring her real-life daughter Chiara Mastroianni. Although they share four previous acting credits, this is the first time Deneuve and Mastroianni have shared a scene together.
“HOMMAGE À SERGE GAINSBOURG” ~Les Bohèmes de Paris~ (acrylic on canvas/140x100/2011) 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, Paris…. Serge Gainsbourg (poet, singer-songwriter, actor, director and artist), born in Paris as Lucien Ginsburg in Paris (1928-1991), France; the son of Russian Jewish emigrants, Joseph Ginsburg, and Olga Bessman, who fled to France after the 1917 Russian Revolution. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee to Paris. Before he was 30 years old, Gainsbourg was a disillusioned Painter, but earned his living as a Piano Player in bars. In mid-1968, Gainsbourg fell in love with the younger English singer and actress Jane Birkin, whom he met during the shooting of the film “Slogan”. Their relationship lasted over a decade. In 1971 they had a daughter, the actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg. Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, astonished the world by the rather erotic song they sung together….which, was originally written for Birgitte Bardot and released in Februari 1969, after he fell deeply in love with Jane in 1968; “Je T’aime…Moi Non Plus”…
“CAPTURED BY THE BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” ~Les Bohèmes de Paris~ (acrylic on canvas/140x100/2011) “Is this the real life…or, is this just fantasy..? Caught in a landslide; no escape from reality. Open your eyes, Look up to the skies and see”…. Paris 1962 The year, that Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev first danced together in a Royal Ballet performance of Giselle in London, Beatles drummer Pete Best was fired and replaced by Ringo Starr, the 34th Academy Awards ceremony was held; West Side Story won Best Picture, France and Tunesia re-established diplomatic relations, Marlyn Monroe died of an overdosis…and, French Actress Marie Trintignant, was born…. I was a young artist at the time; a stubborn idealist, filled with rebellious fire & passion; to change the world and to kick against the shallow & insensitive taboos in the World. Money was a subject of non-interest to me; as often, those who had money, often abused the word Peace & Charity for their own benefit and ego...and, spoilt the world and did not have the Intellect or Depth, to see further then their wealth and their status of Fortuna; some called me Revolutionair…and others, would call me Elitair... Men would find me intriguing and “different”; however, as was mentioned, I was stubborn and in search for Unique Love, which felt as warm & loving as the selfmade flamboyant colourful coat that I was wearing; made of little pieces of material, with each piece, representing a precious memory from my childhood. Due to my unusual flamboyant coat, women often saw me as a threath…except for those, who had integrity and stood grounded in life and who realized that “happiness & beauty” is within…and not, in the trademark of just a coat. “My pockets are empty....but, my heart is filled with Passion & with Wealth” ~ Oscar Wilde On a semi sunny day in June, I was strolling sûr Le Pont Mirabeau and, while I was eating ma petite baguette from the local boulangerie à Sentier, and dreamingly gazing across la Seine….all of a sudden, my eyes spotted a stranger’s warm gaze down below, staring at me intensively; a mysterious man, wearing a Mask of Magnificense & Splendour; set with uncountable Rubies and Diamonds, which sparkled in the joyful streams of the Sun. The man held up a bottle of Don Perignon Champagne and waved at me to come and join him for a glass, down below Le Pont Mirabeau... “Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine Et nos amours, Faut-il qu'il m'en souvienne, La joie venait toujours après la peine”... We talked and talked, drank Champagne and smoked our Cuban Cigars…and, were dancing the Tango on the crying tunes of some kind of Argentine Rhapsody, played by a lonely violist from a little boat sûr la Seine. And before we realized, the Sun switched places with the Moon...and, the mysterious Veil of the Night embraced us… It felt like I knew him longer then one life and I know, that he felt the same… That night, I told him my life story by showing him my coat, made of all precious memories; something, I had never told anyone before in my life….the man felt as warm as my bright coloured coat.. Although, the Mask of Splendour was still covering half his face, it did not take long; I could see right through it, like it was made of transparent and exquisite Lace, to suit the beauty of his warm & sensitive Bohemian Soul... I loved him then....and, I love him now.. In the darkness of that Parisian night, he promised me “the Moon and the Stars” off the Parisian Sky…and I know, he would….if ónly, he could… But, it were not the Rubies and the Diamonds on his Mask, that caught my heart; I was captured by what was underneath....his smile, and the vibrant warm colours of his Soul, which would blend so well with the colours of my Soul...and, make an ultimate colourful & passionate composition for “The Bohemian Rhapsody"... All Rights Reserved by Amy Polling@2011 Author: Amy Polling And, with some help of my friends: ~Queen ~Guillaume Apollinaire (1880 - 1918)
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