Loving Vincent - A Hand Painted Film

I saw a very interesting movie about Vincent Van Gogh that was itself a work of art- Loving Vincent.  Due to the unique nature of this film I know it is in limited release, rent it if it doesn't play near you, but if possible the visual effects will be even more stunning if you can see it on the big screen.  I was able to see it at SIFF Cinema in Seattle where it was playing in November 2017.

The film's website (linked above) says this of the movie-

"On 27th July 1890 a gaunt figure stumbled down a drowsy high street at twilight in the small French country town of Auvers.

The man was carrying nothing; his hands clasped to a fresh bullet wound leaking blood from his belly.

This was Vincent van Gogh, then a little known artist; now the most famous artist in the world.

His tragic death has long been known, what has remained a mystery is how and why he came to be shot.

Loving Vincent tells that story."

Café Terrace at Night, Vincent Van Gogh, 1888

The movie takes place a year after Van Gogh has died and opens with a scene at the Night Café.  It felt a bit like the viewer is temporarily living inside of Van Gogh's painted world.  Van Gogh has long been one of my favorite artists, but anyone would appreciate the interesting visual effects.

The title is taken from how Van Gogh signed his many letters to Theo,  "Your Loving Vincent."


Portrait of Armand Roulin, Vincent Van Gogh,1888

It is mesmerizing to see the images move and paintings come to life.  The movie was first filmed with actors and then each frame of film (over 65,000 frames) was hand painted over by a team of 125 artists.  I had read this before I went to see it, I wondered if it would make me dizzy but it didn't at all.  There were times when it was easy to lose yourself in the visuals and drift away from the plot for a minute.  Yet this movie presents an interesting and engaging story, showing the well known life of the artist Van Gogh from another viewpoint.


Portrait of Postman Roulin, Vincent Van Gogh,1888

This is a fictional story based on the life, and specifically on the death of Vincent Van Gogh.  There is a letter that was found a year after Van Gogh's death addressed to his brother Theo in Paris. Postmaster Roulin of Arles just had it returned as undeliverable so he sends his son Armand to Paris to deliver it by hand.  Armand apparently didn't care for Van Gogh during the year he lived in Arles and doesn't want this task.  However his father respected Van Gogh as an artist and wants to see the letter delivered to honor him.  Both characters were shown to look like Van Gogh painted them (portraits shown above).

The Night Cafe, Vincent Van Gogh,1888

There are dozens of Van Gogh paintings that come to life in this movie, they are seamlessly woven into the story (each of the ten paintings in this blog post were featured in the movie, along with many more).  Van Gogh's work is very recognizable, his painting style of expressive brushwork works well as a type of hand painted animation.



Portrait of Père Tanguy, Vincent Van Gogh, Paris, Winter 1887-88

The viewer knows that when Armand arrives in Paris he will find out that Theo Van Gogh died six months after his brother.  Theo became quite ill, but it is commonly thought that he died of sadness over losing the brother he had been so close to.  Armand finds the news out from Père Tanguy, Van Gogh's art gallery dealer in Paris (portrait shown above).  Van Gogh had been living in Paris with Theo where he started learning techniques from the Impressionist painters.  

Vincent then went to Arles in the early spring of 1888 to paint in the region of Provence where he hoped to start an artist colony and for a few months lived with the painter Paul Gauguin.  However it didn't go well for him, Vincent had his mental breakdown in Arles, then went to the asylum of St. Remy for a year. After, in the spring of 1890, he moved to Auvers where he was being regularly treated by Dr. Gachet. 

Postmaster Roulin had talked with his reluctant son Armand about Van Gogh before he left.  Roulin got a letter from Van Gogh right before he shot himself that said how happy he was, he can't understand what caused him to go from happy to suicidal in such a short time.

When Armand says he doesn't know why the letter needs to be delivered Roulin asks his son to consider how they would each feel if the other died, they would certainly want to receive that letter. 

The Church at Auvers, Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

Keeping his father's words in mind, after he learns of Theo's death Armand decides to go from Paris to Auvers and meet with Dr. Gachet and see for himself how Van Gogh lived for his last several months.  Armand feels that Dr. Gachet should have the letter.  Upon visiting Dr. Gachet's house he learns that he is away so he finds lodging in the town. 

Portrait of Miss Adeline Ravoux, Vincent Van Gogh,1890

I have several books on Van Gogh and have seen many of his paintings in person including visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.  However I was personally unfamiliar with Van Gogh's Portrait of Miss Adeline Ravoux.  Yet Adeline plays a big role in the movie, she is the innkeeper's daughter of the inn where Van Gogh spent his last three months.  She also remembered him as happy and loving to paint and painting all the time.  Adeline is friendly to Armand, who decides to also stay in the same inn, and seems to know everyone in town.

While Armand is waiting for Dr. Gachet to return for a few days he interviews everyone he can find who knew Van Gogh.  Everyone has a different story, Armand starts to wonder if perhaps instead of a suicide this was a murder and he is starting to consider it as a possible crime.  The movie is at turns fascinating, mysterious, sad, poignant and humerous.  I had heard that the plot was not as interesting as the painted animation but I found the turns and character development were just as well done.

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Portrait of Doctor Gachet, Vincent Van Gogh,1890

Upon finally meeting Dr. Gachet Armand feels like he is getting some answers and insight into the mind and life of Vincent Van Gogh.  The story of the life of Vincent Van Gogh is well known, but feels new when told from the many points of view of the people that knew him that Armand encounters.  Though the original film of the actors isn't used, it was still well acted, the actors voices are used and the stills were painted over where people had been acting out a story, they breathe fresh life into this story.

The Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

Seeing works such as The Starry Night, The Church at Auvers and Crows over a Wheatfield come to life is a visual treat.  The painted style works well, would it work in a movie that wasn't about an artist and their art?  Probably, but the fact that the painted movie aligns so closely with Van Gogh's signature painting style added both to the plot and effects.  There are so many vivid colors used, though in an interesting technique all scenes that are flashbacks to Vincent's life are painted in black and white.  The story moves back and forth through time and this effect helps the viewer keep track of the timeline.

Crows Over a Wheatfield, Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

The movie left me thinking about the works and life of the artist and the sad fact that he died so young, he was only 37.  For those unfamiliar with the life of Van Gogh it will be an introduction that will leave you wanting to learn more.  For those like me who are already quite familiar with Van Gogh it will add a new dimension to his story.  I think anyone would enjoy watching this film for the painted imagery and visuals regardless of how they feel about art or the work of Vincent Van Gogh.

I hope to see more movies done in this style, though the effort involved took this 90 minute film over six years to make.  For the time being I may try to see it again while it is still playing in Seattle theaters.