The Eyes of Van Gogh (2005)

After the disastrous months spent with Gauguin in the yellow house in Arles, Vincent van Gogh, in desperate search for a cure from attacks that increasingly plague him, voluntarily enters an insane asylum.

Director:

Alexander Barnett

Writer:

Alexander Barnett

Stars:

Diane Agostini, John Alexander, Alexander Barnett

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Diane Agostini	...	Kee Vos
John Alexander	...	Patient #3
Alexander Barnett	...	Vincent van Gogh
Dean Curtis	...	Patient #4
John FitzGibbon	...	Patient #5
Lee Godart	...	Paul Gauguin
Clarke Griffith	...	Patient #7
Celia Howard	...	Anna van Gogh
Thomas D. Kaufman	...	Patient #1
John Lederer	...	Patient #2
Matthew Marchetti	...	Young Vincent
Edwin McDonough	...	Reverend Rochedieu
Keith Perry	...	Theodorus van Gogh
Roy Thinnes	...	Dr. Peyron
Ray Wasik	...	Patient #6

Storyline

As the director, the goal I set for myself in transferring the film script to the screen was never to present but rather to uncover. I employ a subjective camera throughout the entire film. The idea is to get inside Vincent's head. Everything seen and felt is from his point of view. In order to achieve this, the camera, rather than viewing the action, will always be within it. We strove to give objective expression to inner experience, i.e., to show what Vincent was thinking and feeling; to show how a memory, dream or hallucination registers in his mind: texture, sound, color, shape, tempo. The purpose is not for the audience merely to be a witness, but rather for them to live within the image and to participate psychologically in the action. Vincent's mind, from beginning to end, is always engaged. His confusion, struggle, bewilderment and desperation grow and grow. He is never totally in one place. When he is in the past he still retains some of the present and vice versa. Many ...

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Plot Keywords:

dream | artist | madness | st. remy | memory | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Film site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Van Gogh Productions

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Vincent van Gogh: Someday I must be able to paint portraits that - - a hundred years from now they will appear like apparitions to the people seeing them. They would be like ghosts - - the living spirits of the dead. They'd still be striving, growling, eternal life.

User Reviews

A haunting and emotionally draining experience, but a must see.

Having seen some of Barnett's earlier work on stage in N.Y., I was more than familiar with the depth and breadth of his ability as an actor and director; how seemingly effortlessly he brings each of his characters to life. I was fully prepared to be equally moved by his interpretation and portrayal of Vincent van Gogh. I knew that Barnett could be electrifying on stage and I was curious to see how his energy would translate on film.

Nothing, however, prepared me for the emotional shock I experienced by his haunting rendering of the most tortured months in the life of van Gogh. The intensity that Barnett brought to this role can only be described as "insane." One can but imagine the years of research and total immersion into the life of van Gogh it must have required to be able to portray with such shocking clarity what was in van Gogh's heart and mind during this brief period of time. Another commenter describes Barnett's performance as, "as close to insanity as you will ever get." I agree.

The film is not highly polished in the typical sense. The lighting is poor at times, the sets and scenery drab, and while I know nothing about film editing, I found some of the flashbacks unnecessarily confusing. These perceived flaws could be due to budget constraints, but knowing something of Barnett's work, I tend to think there is some intention on his part. The overall effect is that the viewer experiences the bleakness that is Vincent's life at the time. At times in the film, what is reality and what is only in van Gogh's tortured and clouded mind is as indistinguishable to the viewer as it is to Vincent, making the viewing experience all the more haunting and disquieting. An amazing feat, whether intentional or not.