Renoir - 1 1/2 smiles

If you’re going to see “Renoir,” go for Mark Ping Bing Lee’s beautiful cinematography, which is like looking at a Renoir painting. Do not go for the story, which moves at a snail’s pace. Director Gilles Bourdos splits screen time between painter Pierre-Auguste (Michel Bouquet), already a legend at age 74 and his middle son Jean (Vincent Rottiers), who was then 21 and hadn’t yet launched his own career as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. And the story focuses on their relationship with a young woman named Andree Heuschling (Christa Theret), who served as one of Auguste’s models and wound up marrying Jean.

Although Renoir’s paintings are extraordinary works of beauty, a film is not a painting. A movie requires more than two dimensions. And there’s little life in “Renoir.” There are rich summer blossoms, milky smooth shoulders, pink rosebud lips and a strong performance by Michel Bouquet. But that’s not enough. There’s little spark throughout the almost two hour running time. Theret, who is supposed to be playing the muse to two great artists, never seems more than a pretty face. And Rottiers just seems young. Subtitles. 4/4/13