Lena Olin and Bruce Dern star in The Artist’s Wife, Tom Dolby’s drama about an elderly artist sliding into dementia and his long-supportive spouse. The dysfunctional marriage portrait, which echoes the sentiment of The Wife starring Glenn Close, is now available to watch on DStv Box Office.
In The Artist’s Wife, Claire (Olin) lives a domestic life in the Hamptons as the wife of celebrated artist Richard Smythson (Dern). Once a promising painter herself, Claire now lives in the shadow of her husband’s illustrious career. While preparing work for his final show, Richard’s moods become increasingly erratic, and he is diagnosed with dementia.
As his memory and behavior deteriorate, she shields his condition from the art community while trying to reconnect him with his estranged daughter and grandson from a previous marriage. Challenged by the loss of her world as she knew it, Claire must now decide whether to stand with Richard on the sidelines or step into the spotlight herself.
“History is filled with female artists who have supported their more famous husbands or partners,” says director Tom Dolby. “The Artist’s Wife is a tribute to these women, a contemporary imagining of the journey of the stronger woman behind the man — and what happens when the relationship begins to crumble due to circumstances beyond either person’s control,” he added.
“Showcasing themes of loyalty, new beginnings, personal sacrifice, and life choices in a nuanced way, The Artist’s Wife reclaims the narrative of spouses who support unconditionally” said Benjamin Cowley, CEO Gravel Road Distribution Group. “The film also inspires with quiet courage in the face of challenging circumstances” he added.