While Hollywood is busy making remakes (Murder On The Orient Express being the latest example), indies continue to advance the cinematic art. Loving Vincent is a good example of that. A hundred artists hand painted this animated ode to Van Gogh. Over 65,000 frames. An artistic feast for one of the greatest to ever live. If only Almond Branches and the Tower had been included.

They said at the end of the movie that Van Gogh painted 800 paintings in his tragically short 8 year career. With a total of 1 painting sold during his life. Mystery surrounded his death as shown by the film. Loving Vincent closes with that haunting Don McLean song, Starry, Starry Night…

Starry starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer’s day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand

What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now

Starry starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china blue

Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how

Perhaps they’ll listen now