'At Eternity's Gate' — A Movie Review

If you don’t have something to look at, then you are not lost. Vincent Van Gogh’s enriching journey is one to be admired, especially his marvelous paintings.

At Eternity’s Gate is a visually beautiful film directed by Julian Schnabel. The story captures the last few years of Vincent Van Gogh’s successful, but disheveled life in his declining mental health. Van Gogh allows audiences members to follow the pathway in his own shoes to witness his creations of the famous paintings that should have been cherished in his time.

I have studied the life of Van Gogh but there were a few facts that I was not aware of. Van Gogh’s painting is always the topic to discuss, but his mental health is an even longer, and sad story. The man cut off his own ear. Although the film spends time in recreating the artist's unique paintings, it also powerfully shows the artist in his declining health.

Audiences may know actor Willem Dafoe from an assortment of different pictures. His performance as Vincent Van Gogh is a genuine and passionate presentation that respects the late artist. I felt as if I were observing the true artist who painted his surroundings so fast. He most definitely deserves his nomination at this year’s Academy Awards.

What really won me over was the unique camera work and direction. There are scenes where Van Gogh is walking for over a minute across a field, up to a rocky mountain, and even through a desolate sunflower field. And during that time the camera only focuses on his feet.

Before you think that the film sounds boring, it’s actually quite impactful. Van Gogh led a life so tumultuous, but how he expressed his overall gratitude for his art is inspiring. Art is a form of expression. Now we have Van Gogh’s works and this film to understand his viewpoint and his essence for the beauty of nature.

The imagery gradually blurs in Van Gogh’s diminishing perspective. I have never seen a film try to imitate mental illness. Whenever he is in midst of a breakdown, voices from conversation echo through his head as Van Gogh tries to make sense of the world. I would have never known that Van Gogh was fighting a tough battle.

The camera only focused on what is important. One example is upon the period of time where Van Gogh cut off part of his ear, the camera only stays on one side of his face.

The background music is absolutely enriching. The piano or violin might be a bit distracting to the overall scenes, but it works so there won’t be boring montages of Van Gogh’s painting or his journey's. It adds more drama.

There is a multitude of claustrophobic close-ups but it is only to reach inside and inspect this inspirational mind that could have been given the right attention he deserved.

I am inspired by what the film taught us about following our passions. Others may not agree with your passion, and may even try to deface it, but if it is what you love don’t ever give it up. In Van Gogh’s time period creative expression wasn’t as accepting. The film even shows aspects of how the artist felt out of place within his world.

At Eternity’s Gate is a positive reflection on mental illness even during a time where it was not properly treated for and distinguished. I was left feeling quite impactful after watching this meaningful story unfold. Secrets will also unfold and the possibility of how the artist may have died.

I greatly recommend this film to get lost in the world of Van Gogh. I am very surprised it was not nominated for Best Picture or even for its beautiful cinematography.