VINCENT AND THEO

 Following a string of theatrical successes in the 1970s, many of Robert Altman's films in the 1980s received a more muted critical response.  However, in 1990, he returned to form with Vincent & Theo, a biographical drama centered on the complex relationship between the artist Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo.  The film earned Altman renewed acclaim.  At its core, Vincent & Theo is a richly textured exploration of two brothers bound by love, obligation, and a shared devotion to art.

Despite being one of the most iconic figures in the history of expressionism, many people forget, or never knew, that Vincent van Gogh sold just one painting during his lifetime. His genius went largely unrecognized until after his death, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of 860 oil paintings and hundreds of drawings.

The film opens with real footage from the 1987 Christie’s auction of Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers, which sells for millions of British pounds. As the auction unfolds, the visuals transition seamlessly to Paris in 1883, where Vincent is living with Theo. In true Altman fashion, the sound of the auction continues for several minutes over the new scenes, creating a powerful juxtaposition between the immense value of Van Gogh’s art today and the impoverished circumstances of his life then, circumstances sustained only through Theo’s financial support.

Tim Roth delivers an astonishing performance as Vincent.  His eyes constantly dart his surroundings, as if the world itself is urging him to capture it on canvas.   Roth’s portrayal is raw and unromanticized, presenting a man both consumed by artistic vision and tormented by mental illness.  Paul Rhys plays Theo with quiet restraint.  Where Vincent’s pain is explosive and visible, Theo’s is internalized, an anxious, subdued counterpoint to his brother’s unrestrained histrionics.  Working at an art gallery, Theo sells pieces he finds uninspiring while tirelessly trying, and failing, to provide recognition of Vincent's work.

Vincent & Theo is as much about the emotional bond between the brothers as it is about the tragedy of unrealized genius.  Their relationship is one of mutual dependency shaped by illness, ambition, and unacknowledged talent.  Theo, who is suffering from syphilis, struggles to find love and meaning, while Vincent’s increasingly fragile mental state threatens both their lives. In the end, it's arguable that the world might never have known Vincent’s brilliance were it not for Theo’s belief in him.

Visually, the film is striking, capturing not only the period with authenticity but also evoking how the world might have appeared through Vincent’s eyes.  One standout scene shows Vincent painting in a sunflower field, the camera pulling back to reveal his canvas perfectly aligned with the landscape.  The moment is breathtaking, until Vincent, overcome by his mental turmoil, destroys the painting, a gesture symbolic of the chaos that is consuming him.  He eventually takes his own life at the age of 37.

Theo’s decline was no less tragic.  As his syphilis advanced, it began to affect his brain, leading to a mental breakdown.  He died just six months after Vincent, their bond unbroken even in death.

Vincent & Theo is a film of dualities: creativity and commerce, vibrancy and decay, black-and-white and color, artistic obsession and public indifference.  It is an exploration of what it means to create, and what that can cost.  At just over two hours, it’s a deeply affecting story that’s well worth the time it takes to tell.