Last Wednesday I set out to the Broadway Centre Theatre downtown with my expectations high. I was going to see a film that I’ve been intrigued by since I became aware of its inception. You’ve probably seen a trailer or teaser for the film Loving Vincent at some point, even if only for a fleeting moment, due to the film being the first of its kind in the modern era. So what makes this movie so unique? A team of 125 artists from around the world spent six years painting over 65,000 paintings in Van Gogh’s style to create a movie about his life and death. Each painting was made to create a frame by frame rendition of each scene to portray the world’s first fully painted film. It’s like a flipbook, but with large and expensive paintings.
The story tells of the life and death of the extraordinary painter Vincent van Gogh. Armand Roulin, the son of the local postman, sets off out of town to deliver a letter to Vincent’s brother following Vincent’s suicide. While trying to deliver the letter and talking with the townsfolk in the area where Vincent was staying, Armand begins to realize that certain details concerning Vincent’s death don’t add up. Armand stays in town while he tries to decipher what really caused Vincent’s death: suicide, accident, or murder.
Live actors including Douglas Booth, Eleanor Tomlinson, Helen McCrory, as well as Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Saoirse Ronan recorded scenes which were then painted frame by frame to create the realistic movement of the characters. Being the world’s first completely painted film, seeing Loving Vincent is a unique experience in its own right. This movie is a true artistic masterpiece, if not for the art itself then for the engaging and original storyline. To elaborate without giving too much away, the ambiguous ending really makes you think about the meaning of the movie and helps you form your own opinion about the events presented. The passion, dedication, and artistic talent that went into making this film are apparent, making it well worth the watch.
By seeing this movie you’re supporting the time (six years) and effort (65,000 paintings) of the artists who worked on this film. You can also support the Salt Lake Film Society, who are responsible for screening films like this one, by buying your tickets for Loving Vincent at the Broadway Centre Theatre here.