If you would like to read my review of the last episode, click here.
Synopsis: Picasso takes Francoise Gilot on vacation. Young Pablo starts cubism with Georges Braque but is accused of stealing the Mona Lisa. (TVGuide)
Writer: Matthew Newman
Director: Laura Belsey
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 43mins
Airs: Tuesdays at 10pm on The National Geographic Channel (Canada/United States)
This week’s episode of Genius is very intriguing as it highlights a part of young Picasso’s life that I personally never knew much about. Watching the series intricately lay out aspects of his life is such a treat to watch and I am personally enjoying it so very much.
In the present, Picasso is head over heels for Francoise, and is willing to go to any lengths to please her. He whisks her away on vacation, and while he starts to falter and ignore her, he quickly corrects his behavior when she fights back.
Young Picasso begins to gain success with his work as he enters his cubism period. However, his relationship with Fernande is starting to take an obvious hit as he spends most of his time away from home. She attempts to reach out to him, but he seems to have checked out from whatever they once shared.
Things take a dramatic turn when young Picasso finds himself caught up in an unfortunate situation involving the robbery of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Gery Pieret, the man responsible for stealing other artifacts from the museum once sold art pieces to Picasso and Apollinaire thus by association both are brought in for questioning.
The French police believed the three men were part of a crime ring, and while Picasso did not steal the Mona Lisa, he did play a part in possessing stolen artifacts from the museum. There is an attempt to clear Picasso’s name but in turn, it places Apollinaire behind bars–tarnishing his name in a crime he didn’t commit.
Picasso turned a blind eye to the crime at hand and refused to take any claim in any crimes that were committed, and his friendship with Apollinaire suffered after Apollinaire spent time behind bars.
In the present, Francoise and Picasso’s relationship grows deeper as they connect in a way they haven’t thus far. The episode ends with them strolling along the beach as they discuss having a child together.
And it is important to mention that this episode focuses on artist Georges Braque’s (Kerr Logan) influence on Picasso’s work as they both collaborated on the cubism movement which took the world by storm. A salon is even held in Paris where Braque’s artwork is displayed for collectors and art enthusiasts to admire.
Genius continues to be an amazing trip down Picasso’s memory lane–and I am so in for the ride. During and after every episode I am researching all the elements of the story that is illustrated and I have to say this week is one of my favorites. I did not know that Picasso was accused of stealing the Mona Lisa and I think the series has done an excellent job of illustrating such poignant, rough, and critical parts of Picasso’s life. Bravo!
Score: 7/10
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