What else can possibly be said about Vincent Van Gogh? As one of the most iconic and well-respected artists of all-time, the 19th-century Dutch painter is the epitome of a household name. Even if you’ve never seen a single Van Gogh painting in your life, you probably still know him simply as that crazy painter who cut off his own ear. In the wake of his tragic suicide, Van Gogh established a legacy as the misunderstood, ever-tortured genius, an image that continues to inspire artists of every medium to this day. Filmmaker Julian Schnabel is one such artist.
READ MORE: Venice Film Festival Preview: 20 Most Anticipated Movies
Schnabel (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “Before Night Falls”) is the latest director who has taken it upon himself to translate the artist’s life onto film with his newest feature “At Eternity’s Gate” starring Willem Dafoe as the legendary artist. Although Van Gogh is no stranger to the silver screen, the Brooklyn-born filmmaker will attempt to approach from a different perspective than his predecessors.
READ MORE: ‘At Eternity’s Gate’: First Look Clips Of Willem Dafoe As Vincent Van Gogh
“This film is about painting and a painter and their relationship to infinity. It is told by a painter,” Schnabel told Deadline. “It contains what I felt were essential moments in his life; this is not official history – it’s my version. One that I hope could make you closer to him.”
READ MORE: 55 Must-See Films: The 2018 Fall Movie Preview
Furthermore, Schnabel expounded on his decision to step outside of simply portraying historical events on screen in his director’s statement for the 75th Venice Film Festival:
This is not a forensic biography about the painter. It is about what it is to be an artist. It is fiction, and in the act of pursuing our goal, if we lean towards the divine light, we might even stumble onto the truth. The only way to describe a work of art is to make a work of art.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Academy Award® Nominee Julian Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gate is a journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art. This is not a forensic biography, but rather scenes based on Vincent van Gogh’s (Academy Award® Nominee Willem Dafoe) letters, common agreement about events in his life that present as facts, hearsay, and moments that are just plain invented.
In addition to Dafoe, Oscar Isaac and Mads Mikkelsen are also included among the cast.
“At Eternity’s Gate” has premiered in Venice already and will make its American debut at the New York Film Festival on October 12. CBS Films will open”At Eternity’s Gate” in select theaters on November 16, 2018
Check out all our coverage from the 2018 Venice Film Festival here.
