18 best films about artists

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Everyday life, ups and downs of geniuses through the prism of cinematography.

1. Blood of a poet

• France, 1932.
• Fantasy, drama.
• Duration: 55 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

An avant-garde tape of the cult figure of French art - writer, artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau. This is the first part of the Orphic Trilogy, which also includes the films Orpheus (1950) and Orpheus's Testament (1960).

The surreal silent film tells the story of a young artist who is transported through a mirror to other dimensions.

The picture can be advised not only to inquisitive film fans, but also to everyone who is close to an unusual approach to art. After all, even the main surrealist of modern cinema, David Lynch, called Jean Cocteau his like-minded person.

2. Moulin Rouge

• Great Britain, 1952.
• Biography, musical, drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 119 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

End of the 19th century, Paris. The young artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec belongs to a wealthy noble family, but suffers from a physical defect. After his teenage injuries, his legs stop growing.

The painter finds solace in the arms of a corrupt woman, but later learns that she is only interested in his money. To forget about his grief, Toulouse-Lautrec draws posters for the Moulin Rouge cafe, which will turn the general idea of advertising posters upside down.

In order for actor Jose Ferrer, a man of ordinary height, to reliably transform into tiny Toulouse-Lautrec, the filmmakers used not only a special shooting angle, but also makeup, costumes and even a special set of knee pads.

It is not surprising that the film received two Oscars for the work of the artists and the costumes.

3. Torment and joy

• USA, Italy, 1965.
• Drama, historical film.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

The film is based on the biographical novel of the same name by Irving Stone and tells about the controversy surrounding the painting of the famous Sistine Chapel. The main conflict unfolds between the Italian artist and sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti and the oppressive philanthropist Pope Julius II.

The monumental historical film directed by Carol Reed pays a lot of attention to the inner experiences of Michelangelo. The film is based on the theme of free thought, which is opposed by religious fanaticism and bigotry.

4. Andrey Rublev

• USSR, 1966.
• Drama.
• Duration: 205 or 175 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

The film consists of several short stories about the monk-icon painter Andrei Rublev and the spiritual life of medieval Russia. Thanks to an unusual approach, the painting gives the modern viewer a chance to see reality from the point of view of an ancient Russian person.

The creativity of Andrei Tarkovsky was well ahead of its time. Therefore, only a few were able to evaluate Andrei Rublev at the time of release. Now this film, like other films of the Soviet master, is considered an absolute masterpiece.

Watch on Google Play (Episode 1) →

Watch on Google Play (Episode 2) →

5. Edvard Munch

• Norway, Sweden, 1974.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 210 or 174 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The television movie directed by Peter Watkins is based in part on the biography of Edward Munch. The picture is distinguished by a non-linear plot and a pseudo-documentary manner of telling about the life, work and tragic fate of the artist.

Peter Watkins is trying to find an answer to the question of why themes such as death and despair often appeared in Munch's work.

The film, rejected by the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, received recognition much later. Among his favorites, he was named by the cult Swedish director Ingmar Bergman.

6. Contract of the draftsman

• Great Britain, 1982.
• Drama, comedy, arthouse.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

The wife of a wealthy landowner hires a young artist to make a series of sketches of the house and surroundings, and the work must be completed before the client's husband arrives.

The first full-length experience of Peter Greenaway, one of the most influential British directors. His sophisticated directorial style is deeply philosophical and will suit the most sophisticated moviegoers.

7. Caravaggio

• Great Britain, 1986.
• Biography, drama.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 7.

A semi-biographical account of the life of the great Italian artist Caravaggio: training in the Peterzano workshop in Milan, the escape to Rome and the patronage of Cardinal Francesco del Monte.

The director of "Caravaggio" Derek Jarman is a prominent representative of the avant-garde cinema and the unofficial founder of a new queer wave in cinema.

Like Jarman's other biographical paintings, Caravaggio is overflowing with sensuality. A separate decoration of the film was the play of the inimitable Tilda Swinton and the still very young Sean Bean.

8. Camille Claudel

• France, 1988.
• Biography, drama, historical film, melodrama.
• Duration: 174 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

A drama about the tragic life of the French sculptor Camille Claudel. Despite her talent, the woman has always remained in the shadow of her lover and teacher Auguste Rodin.

The emotional film directed by Bruno Nuitten, based on the biographical novel by Rein-Marie Paris, has received a huge number of awards, including two Oscar nominations and five Cesars. Thanks to the acting of Isabelle Adjani and Gerard Depardieu, as well as the dynamic work of the cameraman, the film looks in one go.

By the way, in 2013 there was another full-length film dedicated to Rodin's muse - "Camille Claudel, 1915".

9. Crumb

• USA, 1994.
• Documentary films, biography.
• Duration: 119 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

A documentary by Terry Zwigoff ("Bad Santa", "Phantom World"), which tells the story of a close friend of the director - the American comic book artist Robert Crumb.

Cruel and politically incorrect comics at one time turned the creator into a living legend of American underground culture.

Crumb ideally complements a number of Terry Zwigoff's characteristic characters who are not afraid to speak out, always oppose society and are not going to apologize for it.

10. Pollock

• USA, 2000.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Ed Harris's directorial debut, which tells the story of the short but colorful life of the American artist Jackson Pollock, a representative of Abstract Expressionism.

Ed Harris not only became the director of the film, but also played the main role in it. The striking similarity between actor and artist adds even more credibility to the film.

The tape has earned many awards and nominations, and the actress Marsha Gay Harden received an Oscar for the role of Pollock's beloved artist Lee Krasner.

11. Frida

• Canada, USA, Mexico, 2002.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Biographical feature film about the difficult life of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and her mad love for the painter and politician Diego Rivera.

The film directed by Julie Taymor turned out to be as bright and original as the work of the amazing Frida.

Salma Hayek played one of her best roles here. Her acting work has received Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.

12. Streaks of fire

• South Korea, 2002.
• Drama.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

This is a story about a Korean painter from the Joseon Dynasty. In the family of a poor peasant, the boy Chan Seung (later better known under the pseudonym Ovon) is born, who early showed a talent for painting. The film reveals the details of his life, creative crisis and searches for his own style.

The film won the Best Director award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. Moreover, Im Kwon Taek became the first Korean director to receive this award.

Moreover, thanks to this breakthrough, Korean cinema became actively interested in the West. It was with the "Strokes of Fire" that the so-called Korean new wave began, which has not surrendered its position for two decades already.

13. Girl with a pearl earring

• UK, Luxembourg, 2003.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 95 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

Netherlands, 17th century. Grit, a young peasant woman, works as a maid in the home of the artist Jan Vermeer. Gradually, the girl becomes closer to the owner, becomes his assistant and even poses for one of the paintings. Their relationship becomes the reason for the jealousy of Jan's wife and the discontent of his household.

This is not quite an ordinary biopic - rather, a free reconstruction of events. After all, history is silent about who the nameless beauty from the painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" was. Therefore, the melodrama of the same name by Peter Webber - by the way, a big fan of Vermeer's paintings - tries to give its own answer to this question.

Jan Vermeer was played by Colin Firth, irresistible in any way, and Scarlett Johansson played the role of his muse. The film Lost in Translation, released in the same year, confirmed her status as a talented actress.

14. Modigliani

• UK, 2004.
• Biography, drama.
• Duration: 122 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Mick Davis' biographical drama follows the fierce rivalry between Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso in the annual art competition. But what makes the film memorable is one of the most beautiful and tragic love stories in art - the relationship between Modigliani and Jeanne Hébuterne.

The main role is played by Andy Garcia. Before embodying Modigliani on the screen, Garcia often appeared in films of the criminal genre ("The Untouchables", "Black Rain", "Internal Investigation", "The Godfather - 3").

15. I seduced Andy Warhol

• USA, 2006.
• Biography, drama.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 4.

Wealthy heiress Edie Sedgwick moves to New York and meets fashion artist Andy Warhol. He invites her to his art studio in Manhattan - "Factory". And soon Eddie becomes a Warhol superstar. But relations begin to deteriorate when Sedgwick meets musician Billy Quinn, in whose image Bob Dylan is unmistakably guessed.

A biographical drama about how fleeting true beauty is. Sienna Miller flawlessly got used to the role of "poor rich" Edie Sedgwick. Guy Pearce, who played a very convincing Warhol - eccentric, capricious and notorious, was her ideal match.

16. Exit through the souvenir shop

• USA, UK, 2010.
• Documentary, comedy.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

A film about street art directed by the world famous street art artist and the king of anonymity Banksy.

The plot is based on the story of how a Frenchman living in Los Angeles and filming a newsreel about graffiti tries to find Banksy and make friends with him.

The painting raises the question of the value of contemporary art, while, of course, not forgetting about Banksy's trademark ironic approach. In the end, everything came together: high marks from critics, love of the public and an Oscar nomination in the category of "Best Documentary".

17. Big eyes

• USA, 2014.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

This is a story about the relationship between the American artist Margaret Keane and her husband Walter, who for many years pretended to be the author of her works.

There are no skeletons or killer Martians in this Tim Burton film. On the contrary, Big Eyes is a bright story about the problem of authorship in art and the artist's attitude to his work.

Interestingly, Burton is friends with the real Margaret Keane and actively collects her paintings. Obviously, Big Eyes is a very personal film for a director. The parallel with his own painting "Ed Wood" suggests itself. Tim Burton is close to stories about charming losers who, despite difficulties, continue to work, even if they are not very good at what they do.

Amy Adams (Arrival, Sharp Objects) won a Golden Globe for her role as Margaret Keane. The role of Walter Keane was brilliantly performed by Christoph Waltz ("Django Unchained", "Inglourious Basterds").

18. Van Gogh. On the threshold of eternity

• UK, France, USA, 2018.
• Biographical film, drama.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

The film tells about the last years of the life of the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. On the advice of his friend Paul Gauguin, the painter goes into self-imposed exile in Arles, a small town in the south of France, to find his unique style of painting there. However, progressive mental illness increasingly darkens Van Gogh's relationship with those close to him.

If we talk about artists, then the biography of Van Gogh, perhaps, was filmed more often than others. Nevertheless, the director of non-standard biopics Julian Schnabel ("Basquiat", "Until Night Falls", "Spacesuit and Butterfly") has something to say on this seemingly hackneyed topic.

Willem Dafoe, who played Van Gogh, received the Venice Film Festival award for Best Actor, and was also nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar.