This biopic of Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, originally made for Norwegian television, is an unprecedented work of cinema. Though shot in 16mm, it is not primitive or stilting, but rather flows with grace and delicacy. The picture unfolds as a kind of visual kaleidoscope of Munch's early life, spanning his upbringing in Kristiana, today's Oslo, to his travels in Paris and Berlin. With the aid of a neutral voice over, we observe Munch's development as an artist take shape amidst various personal struggles and loves. With a running time of over 200 minutes, director Peter Watkins takes his time, and the result is one of the most striking cinematic portraits of an artist I have seen.
Review of Edvard Munch
