Gauguin ― A Dangerous Life

"Gauguin: A Dangerous Life" (2019)

This is a biographical drama that explores the life of prominent French post-impressionist artist, Paul Gauguin.

Starring: Marcel Tai Gauguin, Mette Gauguin, Kehinde Wiley, Tyla Vaeau
Directed by: Patricia Wheatley

Through a non-linear story, the film reveals into Gauguin's momentous journey, as he broke away from indicated realism to pioneer a brand-new genre of expressive, symbolic painting, highlighting the savagery he saw in civilization and the path towards spiritual and poetic license. The film features narration by Dominic West and includes insights from Gauguin's descendants and contemporary artists.

The movie's narrative periods Gauguin's life, beginning with his early years in Peru, his visualized success in the Parisian stock market, to his eventual self-isolation in Tahiti, a French nest. The audience witnesses his dissolution from an established bourgeois life to the bare, primal essence of presence, preferring to create and live amongst the locals in forged privacy. Gauguin's mission for motivation in 'unique' Tahiti, his battles with financial concerns, health decrease and criticism back in Europe form the significant plotlines in the story.

The documentary explores Gauguin's relationship with his other half, Mette, who dealt with her spouse's precarious way of life, typically bearing the brunt of his impulsive choices, like the abandonment of their recognized life in France for an uncertain future in Tahiti. Additionally, it looks into his controversial relationship with Teha'amana, a young Tahitian girl who became the artist's muse and heavily featured in his art.

The film delves into his artistic achievements while also addressing the darker aspects of his life, including his relationships with young Indigenous girls and his role in 19th-century French colonialism.

The representation of Gauguin's character is intricate and layered as he oscillates in between visionary decision and reckless abandonment. His divorcement from societal norms to intuitively discover a voice within paints an honest photo of the artist's trip to raw, organic development.

This film provides a nuanced view of Gauguin, balancing his artistic legacy with the moral questions surrounding his life choices.

The movie's cinematography encapsulates a vibrant scheme of colors similar to the hue-intensive art created by Gauguin himself, showing his innovative method to painting. Shot on area, the vibrant landscapes and tranquil outlook of Tahiti's untouched charm supply a startlingly contrasting background to Gauguin's energetic brush strokes. Emphasizing visuals over discussions, the film brings out the turbulent inner life of an artist fighting through his own personal fights while working towards producing work of arts.

"Gauguin: A Dangerous Life" is a cinematic exploration of Paul Gauguin's artistic journey, his fights versus societal standards, financial instability, physical diseases, and his battle for acknowledgment in the art world. His decision to sculpt an unique path in art, together with his personal trials and triumphs, forms the essence of the narrative. It challenges audiences to reconsider the boundaries of dedication to one's art and the sacrifices it requires.

Instantly recognizable, his paintings are in galleries across the globe. They have been adored for their colorful beauty, the most famous of which celebrate serenely exotic women and landscapes of the Pacific Islands at a time when few could travel there.

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