Right up there with John Maybury's Love is the Devil as one of the best artist biopics I have seen(I thought Basquiat was dissapointingl). The film chronicles Munch's life through a narrated montage of flash backs. Much of the narration is taken from Munch's comprehensive journals in which he refers to himself in the third person.
Watkin's seems heavily influenced by James Joyce in his powerful use of free association. While painting The Sick Child Munch re-imagines his own illness, holding hands with a lover, smoky bar scenes and so on. I found the pacing to be very much like the way my mind wanders.
It is interesting how vilified and defamed his work was throughout his career. Critics considered him a madman and a degenerate. But he had a major influence on a generation of artists and writers. I really enjoyed revisiting his self-portraits , areas of focus, like the face, perfectly rendered, backgrounds sketchy and scratched.
I think I'm going to steal Rose's copy or buy my own.
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