Directors / Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman (THE FLYING MACHINE and feature film debut, respectively)
Stars/ Douglas Booth, Jerome Flynn, Saoirse Ronan, Helen McCrory, Eleanor Tomlinson and Chris O’Dowd

Almost every review of LOVING VINCENT you’ll read will begin by informing you that this is the first-ever oil painted feature film to be produced. This beautiful and befitting testament to the troubled yet supremely talented artist, Vincent van Gogh, was always going to be a unique film experience. Now, it is also certified brilliant.

Taking place one year after the death of van Gogh, Armand Roulin (Booth), the young son of a postman, is tasked by his father (O’Dowd) to personally deliver a letter to Theo van Gogh, brother of Vincent. Once Armand arrives in a small town outside of Paris, he begins to speak with several of the locals who share conflicting stories of their involvement and views of the famed artist. As Armand continues to learn about the truncated life and fascinating background of Vincent van Gogh, his curiosity to discover the truth behind the artist’s mysterious death deepens.

Using the same technique as Vincent van Gogh himself, over 100 artists have contributed to the 65,000 frames of oil painting on canvas that have been captured in the final cut of this film. To say that LOVING VINCENT is worthy of our appreciation, as we sit down and absorb what must have been a most time-consuming and extremely meticulous method of movie making, is a gross understatement. It is deserving of utmost praise. First shot as a live-action film with actors then hand-painted over frame-by-frame in oils, LOVING VINCENT is striking to view with its dazzling paint job of a vast array of characters performed on-screen by a recognisable and predominantly UK cast.

The extent of its guarantee to mesmerise is never solely limited to its visual capabilities. An utterly engrossing storyline prods and probes into the possible and probable contributors that may have caused the ultimate and untimely death of Vincent van Gogh. The clearly articulated screenplay, which questions the doubt that is exposed behind potentially false claims, holds every statement accountable to the truth. As its lead character searches for honesty, the writing offers precise education of biographical events with grounded reasoning in its examinations. Minimal but sufficient background concerning Vincent’s childhood and family members is shared and forms a critical part of comprehending the mystery behind his psychological imbalance and final decline. Furthermore, LOVING VINCENT emphatically closes all trains of thought it justifiably opens. A sublime film.

4 ½ stars

Viewer Discretion/ M (Mature Themes)

Trailer / LOVING VINCENT

Moviedoc thanks Madman for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Moviedoc / “LIKE” on Facebook – Moviedoc

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