Knightley to voice German-Jewish painter
Atonement star to voice legendary WWII-era artist
KEIRA Knightley is lending her voice to an animated film about Charlotte Salomon, the German-Jewish painter who produced hundreds of works in hiding during World War II before being deported to Auschwitz.
Charlotte, set for release in cinemas on April 22, follows Salomon from her early years growing up in Berlin as she aspired to become a great artist, to her escape to the south of France at the age of 22, where she lived until her deportation and death at 26.
While in hiding with her family, Salomon painted approximately 800 works inspired by her own life, which was full of tragedy before the Holocaust – several family members had committed suicide.
In hiding, Salomon was trapped together with her grandfather. When he became predatorial, she poisoned him.
“Only by doing something mad can I hope to stay sane,” says an animated Salomon, voiced by the two-time Academy Award nominee Knightley, in a clip from the film.
Her paintings were saved by family members who survived the war.
The film also stars Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent, Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan, the late Helen McCrory, Academy Award nominee Sophie Okonedo and Mark Strong.
WITH JTA
comments