8 Films Every Art Lover Should See

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It’s October. OCTOBER! When did that happen? The days are getting shorter, the air cooler, and with this pandemic still hanging on, we are all wondering how we are going to stay sane behind closed doors until the weather turns again, or the pandemic finally ends.

When the weather turns colder, if I am not out at the theatre or a concert, I am usually curled up on my couch with a good movie. And since I can’t currently go out to see the live performing arts, I thought I would merge my two favourite cold weather pastimes. I’ve polled, researched, and reminisced, and here is what I have found – the top 8 films for art lovers.

1.    
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
IMDB 8.1/10, 2019

Set in the 18th century, on a beautiful coastal property in France, Portrait explores the relationship between two women on either side of the canvas, and opposite ends of society – one an aristocrat preparing for marriage and one an artist, tasked with capturing her portrait on canvas. The film is deeply layered, exploring themes of love, connection, responsibility, and societal obligations and expectations. Written and directed by Céline Sciamma, the film also reminds us what life was like before the digital age and invites us to slowly relish in the film’s beautiful surroundings. Portrait won the Queer Palm at Cannes, becoming the first film directed by a woman to win the award. Sciamma also won the award for Best Screenplay at Cannes. It was also chosen by the National Board of Review as Top Five Foreign Language Films of 2019. If you need an escape from your digital life, if you’re missing traveling to exotic ports of call, if you long for a time without social media influences, this film may be right up your alley.

2.    
Frida
IMDB 7.4/10, 2002

Salma Hayek fought for eight years to get Frida made, and revelled in its success when it became both a box office hit and award nominee in various categories, at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, and more. She said, “I made that sh** happen.” Hayek was both producer and lead actor.

The film begins with a bus accident that left artist Frida Kahlo in constant pain and with lifelong medical conditions, and how that shaped her artwork. It explores the tumultuous relationship between her and mural artist Diego Rivera (played perfectly by Alfred Molina), the challenges of getting recognized as a female, Mexican artist both at home and abroad. It also eludes to her involvement with the Communist Party, including her brief affair with Leon Trotsky. The film beautifully weaves Frida’s artwork into the narrative, providing the viewer with a deeper insight into the artist’s mind. Try not to focus on the fact that it’s officially a Weinstein film. It’s a Hayek film, through and through.

3.    
Cinema Paradiso
IMDB 8.5/10, 1988

The film is considered a classic and is often credited with reviving Italy's film industry, which later produced Mediterraneo and Life Is Beautiful. It is the story about a child who develops his love of film and filmmaking through his deep friendship with the projectionist at Cinema Paradiso. It is a story about following your dreams. A story about love and love lost. About the impact a single person can have on another. If you love the experience of immersing yourself in a film that takes you to another time and place, you will love this film. The film score was also composed by the infamous, late Ennio Morricone. It is all so beautiful, you won’t even notice the subtitles.

Oh, and Cinema Paradiso won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 62nd Academy Awards and the Golden Globes the same year.

4.    
Ai Wei Wei: Never Sorry
IMDB 7.6/10, 2012

Do not mess with Ai Wei Wei. I am in awe of this man. This documentary film follows the conceptual artist from 2009 until 2011, when he is ultimately beat up and then detained by Chinese authorities at the Beijing Airport. Through this period, Ai Wei Wei challenges the Chinese government on their policies and criticizes their treatment of their citizens, using his voice and his artistic expression. If you ever doubted that one person can make a difference, this will restore your faith in the power of one.

5.    
Exit Through the Gift Shop
8.0/10, 2010

Love Banksy? Want to get to know him better? Want to learn who he really is? Well, this isn’t that film. It is, however, a film directed by Banksy and tells the story of Thierry Guetta, a French immigrant in Los Angeles, and his obsession with street art. Also featuring Shepard Fairey (OBEY), and other street artists and celebrities, it gives an unflinching view into the life of urban street artists, and puts both modern art and celebrity under the microscope.

You can watch the film in its entirety for FREE below:

6.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
IMDB 7.8/10, 2010

This 2010 documentary film is a collection of footage taken by the filmmaker, Tamra Davis, when she met Basquiat back in 1985. It immerses you in the NY art scene and features a collection of interviews with those who were close with the artist. You’ll hear from the likes of Julian Schnabel (who co-wrote and directed the 1996 biopic on Basquiat, featuring David Bowie as Andy Warhol), Fab Five Freddy, and Kenny Scharf, all iconoclasts and influencers in their field. We also learn about his symbiotic relationship with Andy Warhol. But what’s really cool about this film is that it reveals who Basquiat was as an artist, but also as an individual, mostly from Basquiat himself. We learn how his style was different from the minimalist, conceptual trends of the time period and the challenges that presented. We also learn what it was like for him to be a black artist in a predominantly white industry. It’s a powerful look at how this young artist dealt with being in the spotlight.

You can watch the film in its entirety for FREE below:

7.
Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present
IMDB 7.9/10, 2012

You’ve likely seen a clip from this documentary film. It was circulating on social media years ago, mostly because of a poignant moment that occurred between her and her former partner. But the full-length film is worth watching. Abramovic is a performance artist who challenges her audience to slow down, to be present, and to connect. It’s amazing what can happen when you just stare into someone else’s eyes, as her exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, asked the audience to do. If you’re ever looking for inspiration to just be yourself and believe in your own power, check this one out.

8.
Adaptation
IMDB 7.7/10, 2002

Calling all writers! Even if you’re not a Nicolas Cage fan, he is brilliant in this film (he was nominated for Best Actor) about a neurotic and insecure L.A. screenwriter named Charlie Kaufman, tasked with adapting a book by Susan Orlean, about an eccentric exotic plant collector who clones orchids and sells them to collectors. Now, add in a twin, freeloading brother (also brilliantly played by Cage) who has all the confidence and ease he wishes he had, a love interest that he’s too insecure to talk to, and the fact that this is based on real people (or is it?), who could resist? You’ve never seen anything like it. Oh, and Spike Jonze is the director. Sold yet?

Do you have a favourite art film? Share it with us at engage@artscommons.ca and we will add it to our blog! Tell us the name of the film, what it’s about, and why you love it.