Irritatingly, it seems the site has some weird protection in place against downloading the images, even though they are out of copyright. The files you get crash apps. I had to use a screenshot.
By the way, one of the things I appreciate about ole Vincent is that despite his life, he had such joie de vivre. Many excellent artists are so morbid, lo Matt Woodson.
Two of my favourite Vincent inspired works are Dragon's Merry Christmas and Akira Kurosawa's Dreams
ReplyDeleteOK, I've ordered Akira Kurosawa's Dreams, despite one positive review of it also mentioning Finnegan's Wake as being a good book.
ReplyDeleteDreams is a beautiful movie in many places, and has a dark foreboding in others.
ReplyDeleteThere are scenes which by todays standards have "cheesy" FX, but the heart of the movie is good.
Scorsese has an interesting part as Vincent Van Gogh. I think I like the Cherry Tree and the final dream as much as the Vincent dream. I am glad most of my dreams are more tranquil these days.
I was about to pipe up about Dreams too. The portrayal of Gogh in that movie immediately leapt to my mind when you mentioned his joie de vivre.
ReplyDeleteBack when I was in University I used to watch it every year as part of the international film club. Each additional viewing garnering some new tidbits I hadn't noticed before. Very much a masterpiece that still performs well despite its age and FX.
Some of your blog posts in the past have caused me to reflect on the village of the watermills dream too.
Hmm, I have no trouble going to the Van G. Gallery and right-/ctrl-click and choose open in new window. Perhaps it is because I use Safari?
ReplyDeleteFinnegan's Wake is an odd thing though. I got through a good handful pages but could probably get through it on a lot of liqueur ;-)
I really like Dreams. In addition to the Van Gogh episode, there is an amazing, life-affirming scene of a funeral procession that just boggled my mind. Please let me know whether it boggles your mind, too.
ReplyDeleteIf it impresses me in any particular way, I'll blog it.
ReplyDeleteThe funeral procession through the village of watermills at the end is a great tale.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's mind boggling, but to see the old man talk happily about life, and complacently about death is good. How the children even are very in touch with death, in a healthy way. It can change your thoughts on the subject. I like best how it is a sermon, but not delivered in a preachy way, simply a well reasoned and clearly stated point of view that you are not asked to adopt, but you kinda feel foolish in not seeing merit to it.
I think it was a poor choice of words when I said it "boggled my mind." What I should have said was that it sent a shiver down my spine.
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