At Eternity’s Gate

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I missed “At Eternity’s Gate” when it was in theaters last fall, but it was just released on Blu-ray and I am completely in awe.  It is a work of art.  It is a film by a painter (Julian Schnabel), about a painter (Vincent van Gogh) and it is unbelievable to me that it has one singular acknowledgement from the Academy Awards in a Best Actor nomination for Willem Dafoe.  It is rightly deserved, but no Best Picture or Best Director nominations?  Ridiculous.

I do not want to give anything away because part of the experience is not knowing too much before watching.  I will say that this film often takes Vincent’s point of view and utilizes hand-held camera techniques and over-saturated colors to convey his mental state.  I know quite a bit about Vincent van Gogh and have seen a few portrayals of him over the years and Willem Dafoe’s characterization is by far my favorite.

There is a scene in which Vincent is speaking with a priest (played by the magnificent Mads Mikkelsen) that is so heart-breaking in its simplicity.  The priest is calmly, but desperately trying to understand why Vincent believes his artistic abilities are a gift from God when his paintings are so “ugly.”  This is an amazing theoretical idea – the concept of a divine gift and the “controversial” results of using that gift.  This film gives the viewer a lot to think about.  Needless to say, I highly recommend it.

 

2 thoughts on “At Eternity’s Gate”

  1. I truly loved this film, as well. Definitely one of Schnabel’s best films thus far. It gives such an intimate insight into the drive to create, the philosophy of art (the movie feels like a meaningful and expressive artistic statement), and mental health. I have a renewed interest in Schnabel’s own paintings as a result of seeing this film. It felt apparent to me that his own views on art were a key component in this film. The fact that Schnabel didn’t get a nomination is why I don’t care about the Academy Awards. Dafoe is also the best Van Gogh by a mile, although I also liked Kirk Douglas in “Lust for Life,” and Tim Roth in “Vincent & Theo.” https://theartsandeducation.wordpress.com/

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The Wandering Art Historian's avatar
I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.