[yasr_overall_rating]
A feature film about the life and mysterious death of Vincent Van Gogh.
I grew up adoring the vast and almost psychedelic impressionist paintings by the enigmatic Vincent Van Gogh, so to see a film take a unique approach on his life, was as intriguing as his mythos. The film was painstakingly made over the course of seven years by a team of over one hundred artists, every frame meticulously painted by hand. The animation is a bold vision that pays off seeing his paintings and self-portraits move across the screen with his signature vibrant colors full of depth and his rough edges giving characters stunning backdrops. The cast is mainly English and Irish players with some standout appearances from Saoirse Ronan, Jerome Flynn, and Chris O’Dowd.
The story is told in a detective manner with the lead character Armand (played by Douglas Booth) delivering a letter to Vincent’s brother Theo and investigating the suspicious circumstances behind Vincent’s alleged suicide. Armand is an observer into Van Gogh’s interaction with former friends but also is keen to have a pub brawl when necessary.
I found it to be a relief that the portrayal of Van Gogh being tender and introspective instead of the typical mad genius he has been perceived as. The film’s editing and transitions were at times poetic, one scene, in particular, stood out when blood and drops of wine interspersed to unify the juxtaposing scenes.
The film is well worth the tedious hours it must have taken to illustrate and bring to life such a legendary artist. It certainly changed my perspective of him and I look forward to my next Vincent viewing at his namesake museum in Amsterdam.
In select theaters Friday, September 22nd
