Young Princess Camélia, magically transformed into an adult, must traverse a phantasmagoric and surreal landscape filled with enchanted beings, fantastical goblins, and human-like ghouls. Throughout her journey to adulthood, she navigates a minefield of patriarchy, facing a series of frightful encounters in this whimsical and surreal new world.
＊ Content warning: This film contains scenes that some viewers may find distressing or uncomfortable.
Less -
Niki de Saint Phalle earned international acclaim as a visual artist, renowned for her paintings, sculptures, and installations worldwide. Her sculptural works enliven cities globally, from the vicinity of the Centre Pompidou in Paris to the entrance of a hotel in Gyeongju. She lived a “life like a movie,” across multiple countries and filled with both happiness and sorrow, marked by several relationships and marriages. Yet her filmmaking remained relatively obscure, and her handful of short films and single feature film were virtually inaccessible for a long time. Recently, her 1976 feature film A Dream Longer Than the Night was restored in 4K. For this film, Niki de Saint Phalle assembled fellow artists, including director and writer Peter Whitehead, with whom she had previously created the short film Daddy (1973). The narrative follows young Princess Camélia who undergoes a magical transformation into adulthood and journeys through fantastically bizarre, surrealistic landscapes. Throughout her journey to adulthood, Camélia confronts a series of unsettling and frightening encounters in this strange realm. The film prominently features works by both Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely throughout its runtime. Thanks to the restoration of the film in 2023 by Italy's L'lmmagine Ritrovata, we can once again appreciate the value of this singular film in every way. (Sung MOON)
Less -
Niki Charitable Art Foundation | archives@nikidesaintphalle.org
Niki DE SAINT PHALLE
