Frames of Art: Cinematic Homages to Paintings

Carrying Akira Kurosawa's own dreams, Dreams(1990) is a magical film that narrates through eight different episodes, which was initially planned to be 11 segments but reduced to eight later. Dreams is often seen as a deeply personal project for Kurosawa, a way for him to explore his dreams, his thoughts on life, nature, and humanity, and his relationship with art. The whole film feels like a journey into a subconscious world. In the fifth episode, Crows, an art student explores the world of Vincent Van Gogh, which was played Martin Scorcece. Later, the student wanders through some of the works of the artist, such as Wheatfield with Crows. The concept of the film makes the film such a unique work of art with beautiful and abstract images, which makes its cinematography pure beauty.

Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012) is often celebrated for its painterly visual style and nostalgic atmosphere. One of Anderson’s visual inspirations for the film is believed to be Alex Colville’s painting To Prince Edward Island (1965), a hauntingly quiet and enigmatic image that features a woman gazing through binoculars while seated with a man in a rowboat. Much like the painter's other works, the painting evokes the feeling of early video games, which is quite interesting. Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two misunderstood children who run away together on a fictional New England island, using visual symmetry, subdued performances, and richly textured settings to capture a sense of emotional longing.  Anderson’s use of carefully composed, static shots and muted color palettes mirrors Colville’s restrained yet emotionally charged visual language.

Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, which is based on Anthony Burgess' 1962 novel of the same title, is a violent film that explores the terrifying theme of human nature through social critisicm and disturbing visuals. The main character Alex, played by Malcolm McDowell, is a sadistic, misogynist and disturbed person who commits brutal crimes. After his capture, he experiences a cruel and inhumane treatment that is designed to cure violent patients. In one scene, Kubrick is inspired by Van Gogh's Prisoners' Round(1890) to emphasize and to connect the degrading and cruel conditions of prisons and Alex's rehabilitation.