Oct 8, 2025
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Julie Rubio’s New Feature: Painter Tamara de Lempicka
by Dave Fonseca
The poster for Rubio's new feature documentary. image: designed by Doreen Hemmati, painting courtesy Tamara de Lempicka EstatePLEASE support our GoFundMe campaign to cover research expenses for our articles and rebuilding the cineSOURCE site.
“I live life in the margins of society,” said Tamara de Lempicka (1894-1980), a Polish painter who lived in France, the United States and Mexico. “The rules of normal society don’t apply to those who live on the fringe.”
Similar could be said for East Bay filmmaker Julie Rubio, whose latest work is a feature documentary, "Tamara: The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival.” The film will screen in its entirety at San Francisco’s de Young Museum, as part of the highly anticipated de Lempicka retrospective, which opens October 12, 2024. This event is expected to draw significant attention from art and film enthusiasts alike, providing a platform for Rubio's film to reach a diverse audience.
Rubio, whose debut feature “Six Sex Scenes and a Murder” was the feature article of cineSOURCE’s debut issue, in 2008 (see it here), has been involved in lots of projects since, as a director, producer and cinema activist. Indeed, she is the current president of the organization Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area (WIFSFBA).
"Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival" delves into the life and legacy of the iconic Art Deco painter, known for her bold, sensuous art and tumultuous life, characterized by resilience against the immense challenges of her time. Born in Moscow to a Jewish family, Tamara later married a Polish lawyer who became entangled in the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. Fleeing the war, they sought refuge in Paris, where they rebuilt their lives as refugees.
Her story is told through her artwork, focusing on her relationships with her family, lovers, and friends, as well as her Jewish heritage and its profound influence on her life, career, and indomitable spirit. Told through her never-before-seen 8mm home movies and groundbreaking newly-discovered birth and baptism certificates, the film reveals her true name, heritage, and identity for the first time and will change art history.
Rubio's film captures the essence of de Lempicka's journey, highlighting her artistic genius and struggle as a woman in a male-dominated world. Indeed, during her first exhibition in the early 1920s, she signed her paintings "Lempitzki," the masculine form of her name. After enjoying international fame in 1920s Paris, her star dimmed but she kept working prodigiously, and has enjoyed a revival in today’s art market, where she is considered one of the top female painters, along with Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keeffe.
Director and cine-activist Rubio with her new hero. photo: Jorgen Lilijefelt Wennstrom, painting courtesy Tamara de Lempicka EstateRubio is a prominent figure in the film industry, not only for her production and directorial work but cine activism. As well as "Six Sex Scenes", she directed the feature "Too Perfect" and short "Soledad is Gone Forever," while notable projects as a producer include the feature "East Side Sushi" (see cineSOURCE article) distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Company and Netflix, and "Oakland B Mine," "Del Cielo," "Everything is Temporary," and "Impression", which have also received acclaim and distribution.
As the president of WIFSFBA, she has been a vocal supporter of gender equality and has worked tirelessly to support the advancement of women in the industry. Indeed, her new film is a testament to that commitment to giving a voice to women's experiences. "The world is in a state of turmoil and desperately needs the stability and compassion that women's leadership can provide," Julie told me.
Following its screening at the de Young Museum, the film will undoubtedly be accepted to some major film festivals around the world. Given discussions are already underway with major distributors for both domestic and international releases, with an announcement coming soon, de Lempicka's compelling story will reach a broad and diverse viewership.
Rubio’s film is a crowning jewel in the current resurgence of interest in de Lempicka’s life and work. Other examples of this include an exhibition of the artist’s work at Sotheby's and the Broadway musical “Lempicka”, which opened in 2018, and has toured the country. Critics have pointed out the obvious influence of de Lempicka on the look-and-feel of the recent “Celebration” tour by Madonna, who is a collector of the artist’s work. The world is going through a “de Lempicka craze” and Rubio’s film captures the essence of the public’s current fascination with the Art Deco artist.
Participants in the film include de Lempicka's great-granddaughter Marisa de Lempicka, who provides an intimate peek into the world of this absorbing artist. Broadway star Eden Espinosa, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as de Lempicka in the musical, provides her insights during a comprehensive interview. Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner Angelica Huston lends not only her distinctive voice as narrator, but also tells the wonderful stories about starring as Tamara in the Broadway play “Tamara”, and about wearing the de Lempicka jewelry that Jack Nicholson gave her the night she won her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "Prizzi's Honor" in 1985.
Julie Rubio in the shot from 2008 which became the cover of cineSOURCE's debut issue. photo: D. BlairJulie Rubio's "The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival" is more than just a film; it's a call to action for gender equality and the celebration of women's contributions to art and culture. Be sure to catch the screening at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco during the Tamara de Lempicka Retrospective Exhibition opening this fall. Witness a powerful narrative brought to life by a visionary filmmaker dedicated to making a difference.
For more information and updates, visit the Tamara de Lempinka documentary website or Instagram page, or the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco info on her show.
Dave Fonseca is a retired and recovering technical writer who now only writes about the things he truly loves. He can be reached .
Posted on Jun 13, 2024 - 08:57 PM
by Dave Fonseca
The poster for Rubio's new feature documentary. image: designed by Doreen Hemmati, painting courtesy Tamara de Lempicka Estate“I live life in the margins of society,” said Tamara de Lempicka (1894-1980), a Polish painter who lived in France, the United States and Mexico. “The rules of normal society don’t apply to those who live on the fringe.”
Similar could be said for East Bay filmmaker Julie Rubio, whose latest work is a feature documentary, "Tamara: The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival.” The film will screen in its entirety at San Francisco’s de Young Museum, as part of the highly anticipated de Lempicka retrospective, which opens October 12, 2024. This event is expected to draw significant attention from art and film enthusiasts alike, providing a platform for Rubio's film to reach a diverse audience.
Rubio, whose debut feature “Six Sex Scenes and a Murder” was the feature article of cineSOURCE’s debut issue, in 2008 (see it here), has been involved in lots of projects since, as a director, producer and cinema activist. Indeed, she is the current president of the organization Women in Film San Francisco Bay Area (WIFSFBA).
"Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival" delves into the life and legacy of the iconic Art Deco painter, known for her bold, sensuous art and tumultuous life, characterized by resilience against the immense challenges of her time. Born in Moscow to a Jewish family, Tamara later married a Polish lawyer who became entangled in the upheavals of the Russian Revolution. Fleeing the war, they sought refuge in Paris, where they rebuilt their lives as refugees.
Her story is told through her artwork, focusing on her relationships with her family, lovers, and friends, as well as her Jewish heritage and its profound influence on her life, career, and indomitable spirit. Told through her never-before-seen 8mm home movies and groundbreaking newly-discovered birth and baptism certificates, the film reveals her true name, heritage, and identity for the first time and will change art history.
Rubio's film captures the essence of de Lempicka's journey, highlighting her artistic genius and struggle as a woman in a male-dominated world. Indeed, during her first exhibition in the early 1920s, she signed her paintings "Lempitzki," the masculine form of her name. After enjoying international fame in 1920s Paris, her star dimmed but she kept working prodigiously, and has enjoyed a revival in today’s art market, where she is considered one of the top female painters, along with Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keeffe.
Director and cine-activist Rubio with her new hero. photo: Jorgen Lilijefelt Wennstrom, painting courtesy Tamara de Lempicka EstateAs the president of WIFSFBA, she has been a vocal supporter of gender equality and has worked tirelessly to support the advancement of women in the industry. Indeed, her new film is a testament to that commitment to giving a voice to women's experiences. "The world is in a state of turmoil and desperately needs the stability and compassion that women's leadership can provide," Julie told me.
Following its screening at the de Young Museum, the film will undoubtedly be accepted to some major film festivals around the world. Given discussions are already underway with major distributors for both domestic and international releases, with an announcement coming soon, de Lempicka's compelling story will reach a broad and diverse viewership.
Rubio’s film is a crowning jewel in the current resurgence of interest in de Lempicka’s life and work. Other examples of this include an exhibition of the artist’s work at Sotheby's and the Broadway musical “Lempicka”, which opened in 2018, and has toured the country. Critics have pointed out the obvious influence of de Lempicka on the look-and-feel of the recent “Celebration” tour by Madonna, who is a collector of the artist’s work. The world is going through a “de Lempicka craze” and Rubio’s film captures the essence of the public’s current fascination with the Art Deco artist.
Participants in the film include de Lempicka's great-granddaughter Marisa de Lempicka, who provides an intimate peek into the world of this absorbing artist. Broadway star Eden Espinosa, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her role as de Lempicka in the musical, provides her insights during a comprehensive interview. Academy, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner Angelica Huston lends not only her distinctive voice as narrator, but also tells the wonderful stories about starring as Tamara in the Broadway play “Tamara”, and about wearing the de Lempicka jewelry that Jack Nicholson gave her the night she won her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "Prizzi's Honor" in 1985.
Julie Rubio in the shot from 2008 which became the cover of cineSOURCE's debut issue. photo: D. BlairFor more information and updates, visit the Tamara de Lempinka documentary website or Instagram page, or the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco info on her show.
Dave Fonseca is a retired and recovering technical writer who now only writes about the things he truly loves. He can be reached .
Posted on Jun 13, 2024 - 08:57 PM
