A single French mother (Camille Cottin) explores how to live life once…
Niki
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- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
The debut feature of actor-turned-director Céline Sallette, Niki is a vibrant portrait of French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle (Charlotte Le Bon, star of The White Lotus), one of the most iconoclastic figures of the contemporary art world.
Fleeing the oppressive atmosphere of post-war America, Niki arrives in Paris in 1952 with her husband Harry (John Robinson) ready to leave the past behind. But as she embarks on her new bohemian life in Paris, she is haunted by flashbacks and lingering childhood trauma that pushes her towards mental illness. When this culminates in being institutionalized, she turns to art as a means of survival. Emerging from darkness with a fierce creative drive, she enters the avant-garde art scene of Montparnasse.
Blending emotional intimacy with striking visual invention, Niki offers a vivid look at the making of an icon—an artist who defied convention and transformed deep psychological wounds into creativity and artistic reinvention.
“An ordinary story about an extraordinary woman and that is meant as a compliment.” —Sarah Manvel, In Their Own League
“A raw, emotional performance from Charlotte Le Bon dominates a film that gradually reveals the way in which art becomes a way of conquering trauma and finding a voice for this ground-breaking mid-century sculptor.” —Allan Hunter, Screen International
“Charlotte Le Bon delivers a tour-de-force performance that does justice to the woman behind the art.” —Gazettely
Citation
Main credits
Sallette, Céline (filmmaker)
Sallette, Céline (screenwriter)
Doux, Samuel (screenwriter)
Lebon, Charlotte (actor)
Robinson, John (actor)
Bonnard, Damien (actor)
Gauquié, David (film producer)
Deris, Julien (film producer)
Gastand, Florence (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Victor Seguin; editing, Clémence Diard; music, Para One.
Distributor subjects
France; French Culture; French History; Art; Women's StudiesKeywords
WEBVTT
00:00:10.708 --> 00:00:16.250
[music]
00:01:01.083 --> 00:01:05.125
[indistinct chatter]
00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:38.625
Look at me.
00:03:24.333 --> 00:03:29.875
[music]
00:03:32.291 --> 00:03:33.958
Harry?
00:03:36.750 --> 00:03:40.875
[Laura cries]
00:03:42.041 --> 00:03:45.875
[music]
00:03:45.916 --> 00:03:47.125
Two seconds.
00:03:50.958 --> 00:03:52.541
One shoe.
00:03:52.750 --> 00:03:53.958
Two shoes.
00:04:01.083 --> 00:04:04.750
Oh, goddamnit, Laura.
00:04:06.458 --> 00:04:08.875
[Laura cries]
00:04:11.583 --> 00:04:12.583
Wait, no.
00:04:12.750 --> 00:04:13.791
Wait. No, no, no.
00:04:13.791 --> 00:04:14.916
No.
00:04:18.750 --> 00:04:19.916
I know, baby.
00:04:19.916 --> 00:04:21.416
I know, I know.
00:04:22.083 --> 00:04:26.666
[music]
00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.250
What do you think about it?
00:04:31.416 --> 00:04:32.416
Hmm?
00:04:34.958 --> 00:04:36.458
Mama.
00:04:39.291 --> 00:04:40.541
Mama.
00:04:41.666 --> 00:04:47.125
[music]
00:05:08.875 --> 00:05:09.958
Finally.
00:05:14.041 --> 00:05:15.041
Niki.
00:05:15.791 --> 00:05:18.375
Damn it, this is the bedspread?
00:05:18.416 --> 00:05:19.500
It\'s disgusting.
00:05:19.500 --> 00:05:20.875
I\'m sorry.
00:05:33.041 --> 00:05:33.875
[laughs]
00:05:33.875 --> 00:05:34.625
Well, do it.
00:05:34.625 --> 00:05:35.833
It\'s my dream.
00:05:35.875 --> 00:05:36.875
Do it.
00:08:43.333 --> 00:08:45.750
Ah, where do we start?
00:08:46.125 --> 00:08:51.166
McCarthy, nuclear attack, racism.
00:11:34.125 --> 00:11:34.833
Niki?
00:11:34.833 --> 00:11:35.666
Oh God.
00:11:35.666 --> 00:11:36.750
Hey.
00:11:37.625 --> 00:11:41.791
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
00:11:46.166 --> 00:11:48.500
Oh, sweetie, you\'re shaking.
00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:15.875
[music]
00:12:27.416 --> 00:12:28.791
It\'s all good.
00:12:31.166 --> 00:12:35.541
[music]
00:12:39.541 --> 00:12:44.041
Ms. de Saint Phalle, stay here,
00:12:45.666 --> 00:12:46.958
stay here.
00:15:43.583 --> 00:15:44.708
Niki.
00:15:45.958 --> 00:15:46.958
No.
00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.583
What are you hiding?
00:15:55.583 --> 00:15:56.583
No.
00:15:56.666 --> 00:15:57.208
Hey.
00:15:57.208 --> 00:15:58.208
No.
00:15:59.541 --> 00:16:01.041
Let me see.
00:16:26.583 --> 00:16:27.875
What is that?
00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:45.083
[music]
00:17:49.208 --> 00:17:50.791
What did he say?
00:17:54.958 --> 00:17:56.541
What did he say?
00:18:04.083 --> 00:18:07.666
He thinks you could hurt yourself
00:18:10.541 --> 00:18:12.125
or Laura or someone.
00:18:12.125 --> 00:18:13.416
I don\'t know.
00:18:16.291 --> 00:18:18.458
He wants you to stay here.
00:18:34.833 --> 00:18:36.208
I\'m not crazy.
00:18:36.708 --> 00:18:37.541
I know.
00:18:37.541 --> 00:18:38.583
I know.
00:19:32.833 --> 00:19:34.375
Psst.
00:19:37.333 --> 00:19:38.333
Niki.
00:19:38.916 --> 00:19:39.916
Niki.
00:19:47.583 --> 00:19:48.833
[coughs]
00:23:31.958 --> 00:23:34.916
Laura, come here.
00:23:57.625 --> 00:23:59.375
How are you, sweetie?
00:23:59.916 --> 00:24:01.916
You look a little tired.
00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.250
It was five days ago.
00:24:07.041 --> 00:24:09.041
We went for a long walk.
00:24:11.083 --> 00:24:12.833
It was sunny outside.
00:24:14.333 --> 00:24:15.625
We laughed.
00:24:15.625 --> 00:24:16.625
[chuckles]
00:24:22.833 --> 00:24:25.625
It\'s not even a question.
00:24:29.166 --> 00:24:30.833
What does that mean?
00:24:51.375 --> 00:24:53.166
[music]
00:24:53.166 --> 00:24:57.333
[birds chirping]
00:24:58.625 --> 00:25:01.583
[music]
00:25:57.958 --> 00:26:00.625
[Clears throat to get attention]
00:28:11.083 --> 00:28:15.708
[music]
00:28:15.708 --> 00:28:20.000
[dogs barking in the background]
00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.500
Niki.
00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.000
What?
00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:17.750
It was Bresson again.
00:29:18.583 --> 00:29:20.500
What are you doing? It\'s a lead role.
00:29:40.041 --> 00:29:41.166
I love you.
00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:28.958
[music]
00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:53.041
No, no.
00:32:40.791 --> 00:32:43.291
Yes, I promise.
00:32:43.916 --> 00:32:49.041
[music]
00:33:22.375 --> 00:33:24.125
[laughter]
00:35:20.958 --> 00:35:23.125
Oh, he\'s driving too fast.
00:35:27.291 --> 00:35:28.291
I can\'t.
00:35:28.291 --> 00:35:28.875
Okay.
00:35:28.875 --> 00:35:29.666
Oh, I got a cramp.
00:35:29.666 --> 00:35:30.458
I have a cramp in my back.
00:35:30.458 --> 00:35:31.458
Okay.
00:35:54.541 --> 00:35:57.500
It\'s long, birth, you know.
00:35:58.458 --> 00:36:00.125
You breathe very well.
00:36:00.125 --> 00:36:01.041
Bravo.
00:36:01.041 --> 00:36:02.875
I know, I read a book.
00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:05.666
We read a book
because the first time I gave birth,
00:36:05.666 --> 00:36:08.916
they drugged me so I wouldn\'t scream
00:36:08.916 --> 00:36:11.333
and I wouldn\'t feel anything.
00:36:11.583 --> 00:36:13.000
[laughs]
00:36:13.041 --> 00:36:14.583
[chuckles] It\'s not funny.
00:36:14.583 --> 00:36:16.291
They took my girl out with forceps,
00:36:16.291 --> 00:36:18.458
and we\'re not doing that.
00:36:18.958 --> 00:36:20.500
No, we\'re not doing that again.
00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.500
No.
00:36:32.208 --> 00:36:34.000
Hey, hey.
00:36:38.041 --> 00:36:39.708
What is he doing?
00:36:40.625 --> 00:36:41.916
Is he peeing?
00:36:43.958 --> 00:36:45.125
[laughs]
00:36:45.125 --> 00:36:46.500
What was that?
00:36:59.625 --> 00:37:01.875
I was searching for months.
00:37:03.666 --> 00:37:06.000
Take care of it, please.
00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:11.041
[laughter]
00:37:15.875 --> 00:37:19.625
[music]
00:37:30.625 --> 00:37:32.208
[baby cries]
00:37:40.375 --> 00:37:44.541
[music]
00:45:17.875 --> 00:45:21.125
What is this thing
that he wants with you?
00:45:21.250 --> 00:45:22.250
Nothing.
00:45:37.375 --> 00:45:40.625
I don\'t know what I
would do if you cheated on me.
00:45:41.458 --> 00:45:43.458
I cheated on you, Harry.
00:45:45.250 --> 00:45:46.250
What?
00:45:54.291 --> 00:45:55.333
What?
00:45:58.791 --> 00:45:59.916
When?
00:46:06.416 --> 00:46:07.541
I can\'t believe it.
00:46:07.541 --> 00:46:09.208
You can\'t believe it?
00:46:09.208 --> 00:46:10.958
You can\'t believe it?
00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:20.666
What are we doing?
00:46:21.291 --> 00:46:22.583
What is this?
00:46:34.250 --> 00:46:35.583
Okay.
00:46:44.708 --> 00:46:49.208
When Laura was born,
I had a relationship with a woman,
00:46:49.208 --> 00:46:50.708
and she was 40.
00:46:51.583 --> 00:46:55.291
We saw each other after class,
and it lasted a while.
00:46:55.291 --> 00:46:57.041
I couldn\'t stop.
00:46:58.125 --> 00:46:59.458
In Boston?
00:47:13.791 --> 00:47:14.833
The asshole?
00:47:14.833 --> 00:47:16.375
[laughs] No.
00:47:16.375 --> 00:47:18.041
No, the other one.
00:47:18.333 --> 00:47:19.041
Fuck.
00:47:19.041 --> 00:47:20.541
Niki.
00:47:21.375 --> 00:47:22.500
Fuck.
00:47:22.500 --> 00:47:24.291
[laughs] Calm down.
00:47:24.291 --> 00:47:24.916
Goddamnit.
00:47:24.916 --> 00:47:25.666
Are you kidding?
00:47:25.666 --> 00:47:26.666
You\'re telling me all this right now?
00:47:26.666 --> 00:47:27.166
Oh God.
00:47:27.166 --> 00:47:28.291
How could you?
00:47:28.291 --> 00:47:29.958
How could I do that?
00:47:45.750 --> 00:47:47.708
It was just sexual.
00:47:52.291 --> 00:47:53.375
No.
00:47:55.375 --> 00:47:58.458
I\'m never going to meet
anyone like you.
00:48:25.041 --> 00:48:26.958
Yeah, I know.
00:48:27.083 --> 00:48:29.333
Oh, come on, he\'s not that bad.
00:48:29.333 --> 00:48:35.250
[laughter]
00:48:56.416 --> 00:49:01.125
[music]
00:49:42.125 --> 00:49:43.875
[groans]
00:49:44.166 --> 00:49:48.750
[cries]
00:50:15.958 --> 00:50:18.208
[door knocking]
00:50:39.916 --> 00:50:40.916
Niki?
00:52:38.291 --> 00:52:40.458
[laughter]
00:54:08.500 --> 00:54:12.791
[music]
00:55:47.083 --> 00:55:48.458
Come on, it\'s his plane.
00:55:48.458 --> 00:55:49.500
It\'s his favorite toy.
00:56:03.916 --> 00:56:05.000
Hey, stop.
00:56:05.333 --> 00:56:06.625
Stop yelling.
00:56:18.791 --> 00:56:22.833
[cries]
00:57:01.333 --> 00:57:02.333
Cold.
00:57:15.916 --> 00:57:20.208
[growls]
00:57:26.250 --> 00:57:28.125
What are we doing here?
00:57:46.791 --> 00:57:52.791
[laughs]
01:01:50.916 --> 01:01:52.958
[laughs]
01:02:53.791 --> 01:02:55.416
[slaps]
01:03:17.708 --> 01:03:18.625
Hey!
01:03:18.625 --> 01:03:20.041
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
01:03:20.041 --> 01:03:20.708
All right.
01:03:20.708 --> 01:03:21.708
Enough.
01:03:26.000 --> 01:03:27.375
[breaks plate]
01:03:27.583 --> 01:03:29.833
Sweetie, are you all right?
01:03:35.458 --> 01:03:37.666
You\'re always going to find
people like that.
01:03:37.666 --> 01:03:39.666
Trying to pull you down.
01:03:48.666 --> 01:03:54.083
[breaks plates]
01:04:46.166 --> 01:04:48.833
Leave no stone before you leap,
01:04:49.333 --> 01:04:52.166
six and one, the twain shall meet.
01:04:56.958 --> 01:04:59.250
Put a little bit of flour.
01:04:59.750 --> 01:05:01.708
What else do we need?
01:05:20.958 --> 01:05:23.166
What are you doing, big guy?
01:05:23.166 --> 01:05:24.583
Get up here.
01:06:25.041 --> 01:06:26.166
Mom?
01:06:27.250 --> 01:06:28.250
Yes.
01:06:31.166 --> 01:06:32.208
Dad?
01:06:44.666 --> 01:06:46.083
Where\'s Momma?
01:06:58.625 --> 01:07:00.291
Yes, but I\'m coming.
01:07:03.333 --> 01:07:04.041
I don\'t know.
01:07:04.041 --> 01:07:04.875
Maybe she went for a walk.
01:07:04.875 --> 01:07:06.375
She\'ll be back.
01:10:02.291 --> 01:10:03.291
Niki?
01:10:12.000 --> 01:10:13.000
Niki?
01:10:45.333 --> 01:10:46.375
Niki,
01:11:18.416 --> 01:11:20.708
[laughter]
01:12:23.750 --> 01:12:25.625
[phone rings]
01:12:30.458 --> 01:12:31.458
Hey.
01:13:32.125 --> 01:13:33.125
[sighs]
01:13:37.791 --> 01:13:43.208
[music]
01:13:54.333 --> 01:13:56.000
[door knock]
01:14:07.625 --> 01:14:08.666
Niki?
01:14:54.458 --> 01:14:55.625
Whoa.
01:15:12.166 --> 01:15:18.500
[heavy breathing]
01:15:55.583 --> 01:15:57.166
[laughter]
01:16:14.833 --> 01:16:17.083
[running water]
01:17:04.541 --> 01:17:07.333
[breaths heavily]
01:17:07.375 --> 01:17:08.833
[slaps]
01:18:03.333 --> 01:18:04.708
Harry,
01:18:06.500 --> 01:18:07.833
Fuck.
01:18:08.958 --> 01:18:10.125
Let\'s just sleep.
01:18:10.125 --> 01:18:11.875
I mean, it\'s 2:00 AM.
01:18:17.375 --> 01:18:19.041
What\'s happening?
01:18:20.000 --> 01:18:21.916
What do you want, Niki?
01:18:29.916 --> 01:18:31.333
You\'re fine.
01:18:33.375 --> 01:18:34.083
No.
01:18:34.083 --> 01:18:35.875
You\'re strong, yes.
01:18:39.166 --> 01:18:40.666
You\'re working.
01:18:44.875 --> 01:18:46.583
You\'re going to figure it out.
01:18:46.583 --> 01:18:47.708
Okay?
01:18:50.083 --> 01:18:52.125
I need you, Harry.
01:18:52.958 --> 01:18:55.708
I\'m a little lost, too.
01:18:56.875 --> 01:18:59.166
I\'m trying to live
without you right now.
01:18:59.166 --> 01:19:00.833
I hope I can do it.
01:19:02.500 --> 01:19:04.416
I miss the kids, too.
01:19:09.458 --> 01:19:11.791
I miss you very, very, much.
01:19:30.250 --> 01:19:30.958
No, please.
01:19:30.958 --> 01:19:33.625
Please, please, just don\'t-- No.
01:20:51.041 --> 01:20:55.625
[music]
01:23:50.083 --> 01:23:53.958
[laughter]
01:24:45.375 --> 01:24:48.541
[gasping]
01:25:54.375 --> 01:25:59.541
[music]
01:26:49.333 --> 01:26:50.458
[spits]
01:27:07.291 --> 01:27:14.041
[screams]
01:27:20.833 --> 01:27:25.916
[breaths heavily]
01:27:57.250 --> 01:28:03.500
[laughs hysterically]
01:30:28.416 --> 01:30:35.416
[music]
01:30:59.083 --> 01:31:00.791
[laughs]
01:31:13.958 --> 01:31:16.041
[laughs]
01:32:33.375 --> 01:32:40.375
[laughter]
01:33:10.791 --> 01:33:13.041
[music]
01:33:13.416 --> 01:33:17.916
♪ I wish I knew how ♪
01:33:18.333 --> 01:33:22.250
♪ It would feel to be free ♪
01:33:23.916 --> 01:33:26.291
♪ I wish I could break ♪
01:33:27.250 --> 01:33:31.625
♪ All the chains holdin\' me ♪
01:33:32.833 --> 01:33:36.250
♪ I wish I could say ♪
01:33:36.666 --> 01:33:40.208
♪ All the things that I should say ♪
01:33:40.875 --> 01:33:44.541
♪ Say them loud, say them clear ♪
01:33:46.000 --> 01:33:50.833
♪ For the whole round world to hear ♪
01:33:52.416 --> 01:33:55.250
♪ I wish I could share ♪
01:33:55.750 --> 01:33:59.958
♪ All the love that\'s in my heart ♪
01:34:01.250 --> 01:34:04.291
♪ Remove all the bars ♪
01:34:05.250 --> 01:34:08.166
♪ That keep us apart ♪
01:34:10.375 --> 01:34:13.000
♪ I wish I could know ♪
01:34:13.541 --> 01:34:17.958
♪ What it means to be me ♪
01:34:18.458 --> 01:34:21.958
♪ Then you\'d see and agree ♪
01:34:21.958 --> 01:34:27.625
♪ That every woman should be free ♪
01:34:29.166 --> 01:34:32.833
♪ I wish I could give ♪
01:34:32.833 --> 01:34:36.875
♪ All I\'m longing to give ♪
01:34:38.041 --> 01:34:41.666
♪ I wish I could live ♪
01:34:42.750 --> 01:34:45.958
♪ Like I\'m longing to live ♪
01:34:46.291 --> 01:34:49.500
♪ I wish I could do ♪
01:34:49.500 --> 01:34:54.791
♪ All the things that I can do ♪
01:34:55.958 --> 01:34:59.708
♪ Though I\'m way overdue ♪
01:35:01.208 --> 01:35:04.208
♪ I\'d be startin\' anew ♪
01:35:04.791 --> 01:35:09.291
♪ Well, I wish I could be ♪
01:35:09.583 --> 01:35:14.583
♪ Like a bird in the sky ♪
01:35:15.208 --> 01:35:18.958
♪ How sweet it would be ♪
01:35:19.500 --> 01:35:22.333
♪ If I found I could fly ♪
01:35:22.333 --> 01:35:28.208
♪ Oh, I would soar to the sun ♪
01:35:28.750 --> 01:35:33.041
♪ And look down at the sea ♪
01:35:34.375 --> 01:35:38.125
♪ Then I\'d sing \'cause I\'d know, ♪
01:35:38.458 --> 01:35:41.375
♪ What it means to be free ♪
01:35:42.416 --> 01:35:46.875
♪ Yes, I\'d sing because I know, ♪
01:35:47.166 --> 01:35:54.041
♪ What it means to be free ♪
01:35:59.208 --> 01:36:04.833
♪ Free ♪
01:36:06.583 --> 01:36:13.583
[music]