JOANNA LUMLEY, fresh from her triumph over the government in the cause of the Gurkhas, is to star in a film mocking the madness of the contemporary art world.
Boogie Woogie takes its title from a Mondrian painting owned by Lumley’s character and her husband, played by the newly knighted Christopher Lee. It will satirise the art market as the book and film of The Devil Wears Prada did for the fashion world.
The pair were joined by Charlotte Rampling, Gillian Anderson and Heather Graham.
Lumley is still best remembered for her role as Patsy, the drunk and out-of-control fashion director in the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous. In the British-made Boogie Woogie, to be premiered at the Edinburgh film festival on June 26, she is, by contrast, one of the sanest characters.
The film is based on Danny Moynihan’s novel and its makers have been advised by two of Britain’s foremost art insiders — Damien Hirst and Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst, art consultant to Roman Abramovich and his girlfriend, Dasha Zhukova.
Advertisement
Hirst chose the art for the film, as well as lending one of his own spin paintings. Works by Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Banksy and Gavin Turk have been recreated for the movie.
Dent-Brocklehurst, whose family owns Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, is given a “special thanks” credit in the film, which is directed by her husband, Duncan Ward.
“Everybody in this film is screwing each other — either literally or metaphorically,” said Moynihan, who also wrote the screenplay.
The plot involves the fight for the Mondrian painting — which has been recreated with the agreement of the artist’s estate — between Alfred and Alfreda Rhinegold (Lee and Lumley) and an avaricious younger collector and his art adviser. Art Spindle, the adviser, is played by Danny Huston.
Spindle, with his big glasses, seems to be based partly on Jay Jopling, who owns the White Cube gallery in London, and partly on Larry Gagosian, the wily American dealer.
Advertisement
“There are not a lot of likeable characters in this film,” said Chris Simon, one of the producers.
“The film shows the lunacy of the art market and how prices are constantly being talked up for the benefit of dealers, owners and artists.”
The film was shot a year ago, before the art market collapsed.
Lumley’s character, however, is ahead of the game. She is determined to sell the Mondrian against her husband’s wishes and reap the profit before the bubble bursts.