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What was once destined to be a short film, focusing on the final days of the world’s most revered painter – Vincent Van Gogh – would later morph into a feature film. It was unknown territory for the Polish, classically trained painter Dorota Kobiela, whose idea to create ‘Loving Vincent’ went through numerous reincarnations. After meeting with the acclaimed director Hugh Welchman of Breakthru Films, who won an Oscar for his animated adaption of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev, ‘Loving Vincent’ the feature film was born.
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Speaking to Hugh over Skype, he said ‘Loving Vincent’ as it is now came into being after he witnessed a three-and-a-half hour que in London for ‘The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and his Letters’ exhibition at the Royal Academy. Here he was able to understand the still massively broad appeal of Van Gogh, both as an artist and a man. Well over a century after his death, Van Gogh remains close to peoples hearts, with a particular curiosity that has never diminished.
Van Gogh’s letters, a collection which spans from 1872 up to the year of his death in 1890, reveal a thoughtful, troubled and warm man, curious about life, people and creativity. This window to Van Gogh’s inner-world form the basis for ‘Loving Vincent’, a veritable treasure trove of information and inspiration.
The plot is a rich and emotional tale, which honours Van Gogh by relating the story of his last months in this world as accurately as possible. Hugh said that since beginning this collaboration with Dorota Kobiela, ‘Loving Vincent’ has amassed a wealth of interest from across the world, a testament to Hugh and Dorota’s passion and devotion to the project, but also a testament to the special place Van Gogh occupies in the collective consciousness.
‘Loving Vincent’ is a unique project, as it is the first time in history a story about this artistic genius will be told through animation, which aesthetically has kept true to Van Gogh’s penetrating style. The project is also blessed by the fact it has attracted a roster of famous faces from the acting world who, Hugh says, saw something distinct and were desperate to be a part of it. They include Aidan Turner, Douglas Booth, Chris O’Dowd, Jerome Flynn and others.
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Speaking on the animation for ‘Loving Vincent’ Hugh revealed that all the animators on the project are in fact painters, who each undertook a crash course in animation. For the purpose of true authenticity, fine art painters were essential in creating the ideal visual effects, it’s their work which has conjured up this beautiful, dreamlike vision.
Paying respect to a master….
Hugh recently visited the grave of Van Gogh, which lays next to that of his brother Theo, in Auvers-sur-Oise. It was a poignant moment, with the film approaching its completion and the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh’s tragic death by suicide. ‘Loving Vincent’ is one of the most anticipated animated films of the century, and it’s likely to be a film that will inspire viewers for a long time.
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Photos courtesy of Hugh Welchman, Breakthru Films, Bartosz Armusiewicz, Wiktor Jackowski and Jerzy liziak