Basic
Info
Title:
Edvard Munch
Genre:
Drama
Country:
Sweden, Norway
Language:
English, Norwegian
Running
time: 210 minutes
Release
date: 1974
Staff
Director:
Peter Watkins
Screenplay:
Peter Watkins
Cinematography:
Odd Geir Sæther
Editor:
Peter Watkins
Cast
Geir Westby as Edvard Munch
Gro Fraas as Fru Heiberg
Kerstii Allum as Sophie Munch
Summary
“Edvard Munch” is a 1974
biographical film about the Norwegian Expressionist painter Edvard Munch,
written and directed by English filmmaker Peter Watkins.
Self Portrait with Skeleton Arm, Edvard Munch (1895)
The film was
originally produced as a three-part miniseries co-produced by Norwegian and
Swedish national television networks NRK and SVT, but was later produced in
1976 as a three-hour version and released at American theaters.
It covers about
Munch's life for about 30 years, focusing on the influences that shaped his
art, especially the disease and death of his family, and the love affair with a
married woman.
The Sick Child, Edvard Munch (1907)
The film was screened at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, but
failed to enter into main competitions.
Like Watkins' other films, this film
uses a docudrama approach. The scenes of Munch's life are mostly reenacted by a
large cast mostly made up of Norwegian non-professional actors, but Watkins'
voiceover narration is also featured, and the characters speak directly to
camera, as if they are interviewing about their own lives or their opinions
about Munch. Some of the dialogue was improvised by the cast, especially in the
interview section.
In order to convey the hostile response to Munch's work
frequently received during his lifetime, Watkins recruited Norwegians who
genuinely disliked the paintings.
Movie
Review
“Amazing”
“Painter's
Biopic like no others”
“The
best artist-biography I have ever seen”
“Mystical
experience”
“Immersive
documentary of a great artist”
“A Definitive
Film of Art History”
Interesting
stories about the film
1. Since its initial
broadcast, the film has been a brief international success, but has not been
widely distributed for many years afterward. For that reason, Watkins said TV
network officials tried to suppress its distribution and prevent competition in
the Cannes Film Festival. After NRK gave up rights to the film in 2002, the
film could be released more widely worldwide.
2. Ingmar Bergman, a
Swedish filmmaker, described the film as "work of genius."
Thank you.
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