In movies, television shows, and even books, the life of a creative person in the arts has always held some kind of allure. Despite the stereotypes of the tortured artist, whether it’s financially or mentally, movies have a tendency to romanticize this way of living for the sake of art. Every genius has their origin story, and while some movies about painters, sculptors, writers, and so many more can unfold like visual poetry, everyone’s got a story to tell.
Then, there are films that show us the other side of those who created beloved works of art, like Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo. These movies offer a different kind of intimacy, even when the artist depicted on-screen isn’t a real-life figure. From The Artist to Frances Ha, here are 10 films about living an artist’s life that should be on your to-watch lists.
10 Frances Ha (2013)
In Noah Baumbach’s Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig stars as the titular character, Frances. She is a dance teacher living in New York City with her best friend, but everything is about to fall apart for her as her best friend reveals she wants to move out with another roommate, and her dance school wants to give her up temporarily — when Frances expected something bigger to be told to her. Now forced to figure out her life without any money, Frances has quite a bit of an adventure ahead of her.
Life Isn’t Always Easy
Frances, who wants to dedicate her career to dance, finds herself at a dead end very early in the movie — something many artists and creatives have to deal with on a daily basis. Broke in New York City, the film almost feels like a coming-of-age as she learns to grow more comfortable with her situation. Stream on Netflix
9 Showing Up (2022)
Showing Up is a quiet film, but one of the more standout indie films that came out in 2022. Michelle Williams stars as Lizzy, who works at an art school in Oregon and is a sculptor in her free time. As she watches her neighbor and landlord gain more clout locally for her art, she balances her own work, complicated feelings towards the industry, and relationships with her family members.
Life’s Difficult, Even Without Art
Showing Up might not be a flashy movie, but there are a lot of details woven into the simplicity of the film. Not all artists are in the big city markets like London or New York City, and the film does an excellent job of showing just that throughout its runtime. Rent on AppleTV
8 Frida (2002)
Frida
- Release Date
- August 29, 2002
The name Frida Kahlo has been plastered on mugs and dorm room posters all over the world, but the 2002 film Frida is a deeper look into the life of the artist. After a trolley accident when she was still in school, Frida turns to art as a form of escapism, especially when the pain and loneliness began to be too much. When she meets fellow artist Diego Rivera, he turns her world upside down, but with many consequences.
Going Beyond the Name and Art
The work of Frida Kahlo is deeply personal, and without knowing her life story, some of her most famous works lose some of their crucial meanings. Frida does a solid job of showing the core parts of her life that made her into the artist she would grow to become. Rent on Prime Video
7 The Color of Pomegranates (1969)
Sergei Parajanov came out with The Color of Pomegranates in 1969, and this movie from the Soviet Union has stood the test of time by not only being a work of art, but demonstrating the life of a writer and artist. The film tells the story of the poet and troubadour Sayat-Nova, who became a well known poet and musician during his lifetime, and how he became to be such a famous figure in Armenian history.
A Classic Work of Artistry
Structured into chapters to mirror parts of Sayat-Nova’s life, The Color of Pomegranates is a breathtaking movie, even if it might not be for everyone. Inspired by Persian miniatures, every scene is made with a deliberate eye, making this one of the most iconic movies from the Soviet Union. Stream on The Criterion Channel
6 Velvet Goldmine (1998)
Todd Haynes directed Velvet Goldmine in the ’90s, making it his third feature film release at the time. Told in a nonlinear format, the film tackles the subject of a pop star in Britain called Brian Slade. Popular during the ’70s, when glam rock was at its peak, a journalist in the ’80s is trying to discover what exactly happened to Slade, who might have faked his own death.
Sometimes Style over Substance
Although the story for Velvet Goldmine sometimes stumbles with its script, the nonlinear structure and visuals add a compelling element to what’s happening on-screen. Highly theatrical, it’s certainly quite an experience while watching that might lean eccentric, but can be entertaining despite its quirkier moments. Rent on Prime Video
5 Synecdoche, New York (2008)
In Synecdoche, New York, Phillip Seymour Hoffman portrays a theater director who watches as his family and marriage fall apart before his eyes. As he’s given a prestigious grant, he makes the executive decision to create a theater experience like nothing else before: he’s going to make an entire world you can immerse yourself in. However, this becomes the chance for him just to escape the misery of his life and problems.
Channeling Problems Through the Artistic Medium
This is a movie about sadness and grief, and as the main character deals with the fallout of his declining marriage and health, he chooses to use his art to do something to alleviate the pain. There’s a certain amount of relatability to this, even if someone isn’t a theater director or artist. Rent on Prime Video
4 Loving Vincent (2017)
Next Film
The name Vincent van Gogh has become one of the most well-known of artists all over the world, spurring immersive experiences and merch alike. However, Loving Vincent brings the life of the artist onto the screen, starting with his suicide. As the characters try to figure out what happened to lead him to this situation, they uncover the secrets of the artist.
The World’s First Fully Painted Movie
One of the most incredible parts of Loving Vincent is how the entire movie is painted by hand, making it the first of its kind. It also shows the life of such a famous artist, putting a story into the art that so many people love. Rent on Prime Video
3 The Artist (2011)
A French movie that came out in 2011, The Artist is one of the rare films nowadays that’s made in the style of a traditional silent movie. It begins in 1927, when a famous silent film star meets a young woman outside a premiere of his movie. She goes viral in the press because of how he poses with her, and then she ends up having an acting career because of it. But with talkies on the horizon, their careers are going to look drastically different.
Periods of Transition
Acting is a tough profession to begin with, even 100 years ago. The movie documents actors, old and new, with drastic changes being introduced into the industry, making it an entertaining take on a historical moment in film history. Rent on Apple TV
2 Pollock (2000)
Jackson Pollock is one of the most famous American artists from the 1950s, and his work hangs in many museums today. In Pollock, which came out in 2000, the beginnings of his life and career are meticulously recreated. As Pollock rises to fame as an artist, his relationship with his wife, fellow artist Lee Glasner, becomes strained, as well as his relationship with alcohol.
Difficult Ways to Cope with Reality
Some creatives find themselves struggling with the circumstances of a budding career along with their personal lives, and that’s what happens in this film. Ed Harris is fantastic as Pollock, earning a much deserved Academy Award nomination for his work. Rent on Prime Video
1 Andrei Rublev (1966)
Director Andrei Tarkovsky has been one of the most celebrated Soviet and Russian filmmakers around the world, and the movie Andrei Rublev is a gem in his filmography. Tarkovsky’s focus in this movie is the 15th-Century painter Andrei Rublev, who lived in Russia during the medieval period. The movie demonstrates his faith and the intersections of it within his art, creating a legacy that’s still well-known today.
A Major Throwback
Tarkovsky is known for making movies that unfold like poetry, and Andrei Rublev is no exception. Although faith and medieval Russia might sound unappealing to some, Tarkovsky makes it come to life in the most fascinating and incredible ways on the screen. Stream on The Criterion Channel
