Tim's Vermeer (2013)

Inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.

Director:

Teller

Writers:

Penn Jillette, Teller

Stars:

Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Martin Mull

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Jenison	...	Himself
Penn Jillette	...	Himself
Martin Mull	...	Himself
Philip Steadman	...	Himself (as Prof. Philip Steadman)
David Hockney	...	Himself
Colin Blakemore	...	Himself
Leslie Jenison	...	Herself
Eric Armitage	...	Himself
Daniëlle Lokin	...	Herself (as Daniélle Lokin)
Bob Groothuis	...	Himself
Ankie Bonnet	...	Herself
Ruth Steadman	...	Herself
Mike Hayes	...	Himself
Nicola Vigini	...	Herself
Graham Toms	...	Himself

Storyline

Inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.

---

Plot Keywords:

painting | inventor | geometry | video tester | woodworking | 

---

Genres:

Documentary | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Sony Pictures Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English Dutch

Release Date:

3 October 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vermeer's Edge

Filming Locations:

Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$49,777, 2 February 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,662,566, 16 May 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

High Delft Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

About 2400 hours of footage was collected. Director Teller had trouble editing the footage down to feature film length and consider stopping the editing process all together. He consulted his friend Penn on where to go next, and Penn gave him a one sentence plot summary: "A man discovers how to create art without knowing how." This was all Teller needed to get the film down to feature film length.

---

Quotes

Tim Jenison: There's also this modern idea that art and technology must never meet - you know, you go to school for technology or you go to school for art, but never for both... And in the Golden Age, they were one and the same person.

---

Connections

Referenced in Tim's View of Delft (unconfirmed)

---

Soundtracks

When I Paint My Masterpiece
(uncredited)
Written and performed by Bob Dylan

User Reviews

Interesting "home movie" about a man's obsession

This is a fascinating, laid-back look at one man's obsession in figuring out how Vermeer painted so realistically. Whether his conclusion is accurate or not is irrelevant: the film is worth watching to trace his obsessive journey to find "the truth". There is humour in this film and a wonderful cameo from English painter David Hockney. The film has a bit of a home movie feel to it: producer and director Penn & Teller obviously knew Tim Jenison, the movie's subject, and decided his quirky story was worth telling. The film is enhanced by a charming yet unobtrusive musical score, primarily flute and piano.

You know when people tell you to 'follow your dream'? This guy did and entertained us along the way.