Visit to van Gogh

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Movie
Original title Visit to van Gogh
Country of production GDR
original language German
Publishing year 1985
length 105 minutes
Rod
Director Horst Seemann
script Horst Seemann
production DEFA , KAG "Red Circle"
music Horst Seemann
camera Claus Neumann
cut Bärbel Bauersfeld
occupation

Visit to van Gogh is a German science fiction film by the DEFA studio for feature films by Horst Seemann from 1985 , loosely based on the short story Vincent van Gogh by Sewer Gansowski .

action

In the 22nd century, the doctor and professor specializing in neuroendocrinology, Marie Grafenstein, discovered that almost all of her friends and acquaintances had died of atmospheric dust sickness. This is the reason for her to get to the bottom of the cause, for which she needs a laboratory and lots of energy units, the currency of this century. Her old friend Amadeus Bergk, whom she can only reach through a chief coordinator, is supposed to help her with the procurement. Since he also suffers from the dust sickness, she receives the address of her boyfriend so that she can start the research soon. But Amadeus can provide the laboratories, but has no energy units to finance the project. Then he got the idea to send Marie to the year 1896 using a time warp that has been banned for 20 years. There she is supposed to buy paintings by the painter Vincent van Gogh , which at that time were of no value, but for which one would get the required amount of energy units today through their sale.

Marie prepares for the 19th century, receives the appropriate clothes and money. She is accompanied on this trip by Amadeus' assistant Kati, so that her appearance as a rich lady from America becomes more believable. They can reach Paris without any problems and are just surprised that none of the interviewees knows Vincent van Gogh. They find the house of Vincent's sister-in-law and art collector Johanna van Gogh and want to buy one or more paintings from her, which she resolutely refuses. Before both of them return to the 22nd century, they will take several fresh flowers with them, as they no longer exist in their calendar. Another trip took her to Holland in April 1885 to personally buy a picture from the painter. They get to know him and he takes them to his studio, where Marie chooses the picture The Potato Eaters , which he has just painted and which is why they have to wait two days before they can take it with them. Van Gogh asked for 125 guilders , but Marie wanted to pay him 1000 guilders, which he generally refused. After their return they find out that the picture is not the well-known one, because it is still hanging in the museum, but he must have painted it a second time, which is why it will not bring the expected profit. Another trip in 1889 is necessary. During this mission, the chief coordinator places a blonde woman at the side of the two women who is supposed to watch over them inconspicuously.

Vincent is now in Arles in the south of France and wants to live and work there with other painters. But only Paul Gauguin follows his call, who leaves after two months after van Gogh has cut off part of his ear. He has more and more doubts about his art, which Marie, who is beginning to love him, tries to talk him out of it during her visit. After lengthy discussions, she tells him that she wants to buy two more paintings from him, but that he first has to have his brother Theo van Gogh come from Paris. The pictures arrived after five days and Marie was able to pick them up from a hospital to which van Gogh was admitted due to complaints from several citizens. Back in the 22nd century, Kati was commissioned by Amadeus to sell the paintings she had brought to a museum. There it is found, however, that the images are not as old as they should be and are therefore referred to as fakes. Marie and Amadeus have forgotten that they were just freshly painted.

Since her return, Marie has been concerned with Van Gogh's suicidal thoughts, which even Amadeus notices. She also notes that she has human feelings and dreams again, experiences that actually no longer occur in this century. That is why she wants to go back to 1890 and visit him in Auvers , where he, with the help of Dr. Gachet has fallen into a real creative frenzy. Here Marie confesses to the painter the true story of her visits and that many years later he will be a famous, recognized artist.

During a meal at Dr. Gachet tries to find a certain picture for van Gogh, which the doctor has stored in an adjoining room, and by chance finds a pistol which he puts in his pocket. When he later disappears into a cornfield without his painting equipment, Marie wants to run after him, but the blonde watchdog reveals herself and prevents Marie from preventing her suicide. They take him to his quarters, where Marie sits on his deathbed until Theos arrives and holds his hands. Although Vincent van Gogh is no longer alive, Marie refuses to return to the 22nd century. She took a liking to natural time.

Production and publication

Visit to van Gogh was filmed by the artistic working group "Red Circle" with the support of Allianz-Filmproduktion GmbH on ORWO-Color under the working title Zeitschleife and had its world premiere on October 10, 1985 at the Berlin Kino International . The film was shown for the first time on 25 November 1987 in the first program on GDR television .

The dramaturgy was in the hands of Christel Gräf and the scenario was written by Heinz Kahlau and Horst Seemann. The film was shot on the original locations in France and Holland.

synchronization

role actor Voice actor
Marie Greifenstein Grażyna Szapołowska Gisela Büttner

criticism

Ursula Meves expressed herself in New Germany as follows:

“As in the literary model, the span of centuries is overcome by means of a 'time loop' and therefore without any complications, but obviously there were difficulties in presenting the material on the screen with the same confident serenity as in the book. In contrast to the amusing Gansowski comedy with its encouraging look at the past and future, a vision of the 22nd century is staged here, which one can easily dread. "

The lexicon of international films writes about the film that it is a confused, unexciting and modest utopian film that lacks imagination and humor.

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Neues Deutschland from October 19, 1985, p. 4
  2. ↑ Visit to van Gogh. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed December 20, 2019 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used