Art Movies Part 3: Drama, Crime, and Romance

Discover these films that highlight artists such as Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh. 

The movies not only focus on art but challenge social norms and get to the heart of the story behind an artist and their subject. Each one shows the incredible influence art has had on our society for centuries. 

5 Art Movies Filled with Drama, Crime, and Romance

Whether you are in the midst of World War II or the pensive atmosphere of Holland in 1665, these movies beautifully exhibit various artists and renowned artwork. Try out one of these art films for your next movie night!

Loving Vincent

Loving Vincent is particularly unique as it is the first film to be entirely painted on canvas. 125 artists came together to rework over a thousand of Van Gogh’s paintings for the movie, totalling over 65,000 frames. The artists replicated his post-impressionist style with rugged brushstrokes for the paintings, thus creating a movie that feels as though you are in the world of a Van Gogh painting. 

The movie follows the life of the painter and specifically the events around his death. The Polish-U.K. team headed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman capture Van Gogh’s genius. Their visuals are mesmerizing throughout the entire film. Although Van Gogh’s talents were not recognized during his life, this movie reinforces why he is often referred to as the father of modern art. 

“The truth is, we cannot speak other than by our paintings” - Vincent Van Gogh 

Final Portrait

This movie, directed by Stanley Tucci, shines a light on the chaos of the artistic process. We see the artistic process of Swiss sculptor, Alberto Giacometti, through the eyes of his old friend James Lord, an American critic. 

It is set in Paris in 1964 and although Lord agrees to model for Giacometti’s latest portrait, thinking it will only be a couple of days in the studio, it turns into an exhilarating adventure. Throughout the creation of the portrait, we see emotions ranging from love, frustration, and bewilderment. Lord reflects on the pure genius of Giacometti in this art film. The movie makes one wonder whether great artists have a blessing or a curse. 

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Scarlett Johansson stars as Griet, the subject of Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece, Girl With a Pearl Earring. This film replicates the contemplative and subdued nature of the painting. Yet Girl With a Pearl Earring is not only a movie about art, it has themes of sex, power, money, and love. 

The film incorporates seven of Vermeer’s paintings and cinematographer Eduardo Serra, applied specific lighting and colour schemes to mimic Vermeer’s paintings. It is a quiet movie that is about the things unsaid and asks the audience questions about the painting. What was Griet thinking? What was Vermeer thinking about her? Who was she?

Mona Lisa Smile

Katherine Ann Watson, played by Julia Roberts, is a new art history professor at the all-women's Wellesley College based in the 1950s. She pushes her female students to not only wait for their time to marry but also pursue their dreams. Watson shows them the wonders of Renaissance to Modern Art. 

The film questions the roles women are expected to play in society during this time and the value of women's education. Julia Roberts beautifully portrays a young professor that not only has a passion for art but also for her students. She functions as a teacher and opens up the world of feminism to her students. 

Monuments Men

This film is based on the dramatic and heroic story of a group of misfits who save priceless works of art before Nazis destroy or steal them during World War II. This allied group found and returned more than five million works of art to their rightful owners. They found a way to save Da Vinci’s Last Supper and evacuated works from the Louvre such as the Mona Lisa, which they shuttled to safety six different times. 

We follow them during their treacherous tasks to save these masterpieces and evade Nazis. We see works from artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Manet. Stars such as George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett bring this heartwarming story to life.

“Who would make sure that the statue of David is still standing or the Mona Lisa is still smiling? Who will protect her?” - Frank Stokes