'Charlotte' Trailer: Keira Knightley Voices The Animated Story Of A German-Jewish Painter During WWII

How do you convey a life story? For most, the answer would be an autobiography or biopic. Charlotte Salomon chose a different path by using painting to portray the love, loss, and pain surrounding her. Directors Eric Warin and Tahir Rana’s animated film, “Charlotte,” rely on a cast of respected performers to bring this complex tale to life. Keira Knightley voices the central character, with Jim Broadbent, Brenda Blethyn, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan, Helen McCrory, Sophie Okonedo, and Mark Strong rounding out the cast. 

The film’s official synopsis:

‘Charlotte’ is an animated drama that tells the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish painter who comes of age in Berlin on the eve of the Second World War. Fiercely imaginative and deeply gifted, she dreams of becoming an artist. Her first love applauds her talent, which emboldens her resolve. But the world around her is changing quickly and dangerously, limiting her options and derailing her dream. When anti-Semitic policies inspire violent mobs, she leaves Berlin for the safety of the South of France. There she begins to paint again, and finds new love. But her work is interrupted, this time by a family tragedy that reveals an even darker secret. Believing that only the extraordinary will save her, she embarks on the monumental adventure of painting her life story.

READ MORE: Charlotte’: Animated Holocaust Drama Recounts The Tragic Life Of An Artist [Review]

A young woman’s life is shaped by art and tragedy in “Charlotte.” The film is going with a staggered release schedule that includes major markets. It opens at New York’s Quad Cinema and Los Angeles’ Laemmle Royal, and Pasadena’s Laemmle Playhouse 7 theaters on April 22. Soon after, the project expands to San Francisco / Berkeley, Atlanta, Boston / Arlington, Columbus, Irvine, and Phoenix on April 29. Seattle and Winston-Salem are also set to debut “Charlotte” on May 6. Additional cities throughout the U.S. and Canada will be announced. Get your first look at the trailer below.