At Eternity's Gate

Painter, musician, poet, artist, intellectual Julian Schnabel directs rarely and always collaborates with his closest friends. Inspired after visiting the Musée d’Orsay’s exhibition „Van Gogh/Artaud. The Man Suicided by Society” he tried to write Van Gogh’s real thoughts and responses to fateful events in uneasy life. He borrowed the name of one of Van Gogh’s final paintings for film title and went to shoot on actual locations (Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise). Helped by a French friend Jean-Claude Carrière he investigates more mysterious and not so widely exploited theories of tragic demise. Julian Schnabel surprises with unheard intriguing facts, suggested interpretations, cleverly invented monologues, gorgeously restored paintings, musical contributions and wonderful famous cameos, but disagrees to categorise magically truthful film as traditional biopic.

Best Actor of the Venice IFF Willem Dafoe masterfully brings to life ignored genius Vincent van Gogh in Oscar quality performance. „Maybe I paint for people, who are not born yet,” expresses troubled lonely artist.

Edvinas Pukšta