Before Kandinsky and Mondrian supposedly invented abstract painting there was an unknown Swedish artist, Hilma Klint, who began paining huge abstract works in the late 19th century. Hilma by Swedish director Lasse Hallström is a marvelous tribute to this amazing woman. Curious about the deeper mysteries of life from a young age, the film explores how she was drawn to the metaphysical world of spiritualism and embraced the works of Theosophy founder Helena Blavatsky, and particularly Anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner. These studies infused her paintings which were realized in a conservative, patriarchal time when only men were considered serious artists. Beautifully shot and superbly acted by Tora Hallström as the young Hilma and her real life mother, Lina Olin, as the older artist, the film is an essential introduction to a woman who only achieved fame after her death.
