At the movies with Vincent Van Gogh

Researching the works of Van Gogh has taken me down quite a few fun rabbit holes this week, starting with “the movies.” There are a handful of really interesting bio pics about Van Gogh, so I started with the classic, “Lust For Life”. 

 

“Lust For Life”  is an Academy Award winning film released in 1956, directed by Vincente Minnelli (yes Liza’s dad!), starring Kirk Douglas as Vincent and Anthony Quinn as artist Paul Gaugin. Based on the novel by Irving Stone, the film received 4 Oscar nominations and Quinn took home the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.  It tells the story of Vincent’s life from his early 20’s when his desire to follow his father’s path into the ministry brings him to the coal mining towns of southern Europe, where the suffering of the impoverished residents inspired him to draw them so he could share their plight. It follows thought his move into painting, his lifelong struggles with mental illness and his inspirations that helped him develop his painting style. The relationships with his brother Theo Van Gogh and Paul Gaugin are key to the plot of this biopic.  Available on Prime Video here. 

I give it 4 /5 pallets!!!! 🎨🎨🎨🎨 

Next up was the most recent of the Vincent biopics , “At Eternity’s Gate” , the 2018  film, starring Willem  Dafoe as Vincent and  Oscar Issac ( Moon Knight to you MCU fans!) as Paul Gaugin.  This film shows a more modern take on his mental struggles and features the “alternate life ending” theory, which believes that Vincent was actually murdered, shot by a neighborhood teen dressed as a cowboy out looking for a fight.  A beautiful film directed by Julian Schnabel , focusing on his later life when he moves to Arles in the South of France with the hope of starting an artist colony there.  Again his struggles with mental illness and the loving relationship with his brother Theo take center stage.  Dafoe received an Oscar nom of this amazing portrayal of the tortured painter. Available on Prime Video here .   

I give it also 5/5 pallets!!!!🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨

My “Kathie -N- Vinnie” travels will take me to Santa Barbara next week to catch an exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art entitled “Through Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources”. Very excited for that and big thanks to my friend in Santa Barbara , Janice Ingrum, for telling me about this event. Check out details on this exhibit here.  

As all things circle back to music with me, I curated a playlist of songs inspired by Vincent and his work, and thanks to those who commented on my love for the Don McClean song and suggested others to check out. One of my favorites is the NOFX cover of “Vincent”.  I give that song 6 /5 pallets!! 🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨. 

Take a listen to the Kathie-N-Vinnie Soundtrack Playlist here.  

Till next time -- let your life imitate ART! 

Thanks, 

Kathie -N- Vinnie