Films About Art Students
Films about art students explore the creative journeys, struggles, and experiences of individuals pursuing artistic education and careers. These films often delve into the challenges of honing one's craft, navigating the competitive art world, and finding one's unique artistic voice. They provide insight into the lives of aspiring painters, sculptors, designers, and other visual artists as they navigate the ups and downs of their artistic development.
“Art School Confidential”, 2005
Director: Terry Zwigoff
A satirical comedy that follows a young artist as he navigates the pretentious and competitive world of an art school, dealing with eccentric professors, snobbish peers, and his own insecurities about his talent.
Starring: Max Minghella, Sophia Myles, John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Matt Keeslar, Ethan Suplee, Joel Moore, Nick Swardson, Anjelica Huston, Adam Scott, Jack Ong, Scoot McNairy, Jeremy Guskin, Monika Ramnath, Isaac Laskin, Jeanette Brox, Finneus Egan, Shelly Cole, Jean St. James, Cristen Coppen, Michael Shamus Wiles, Kate Moennig, Ezra Buzzington, Lauren Lee Smith, Travis Walck, Paul Collins, Marshall Bell, Chris McKenna, Marc Vann, Roxanne Day, Roxanne Hart, Ozman Sirgood, Katija Pevec, Brian Turk, Edith Jefferson, Michael Lerner, Jeff LeBeau, Marie L. Bain, Richard Bakalyan, John Bliss, Charlie Talbert, Amy Gross, Kimi Reichenberg, Alexandra Ryan, Bob Golub, Lauren Bowles, Zachary Maurer, Brendan Walsh, Brian Geraghty, Valyn Hall;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Art School Confidential” on the website imdb.com
“Pollock”, 2000
Director: Ed Harris
A biographical drama that chronicles the life and career of the renowned abstract expressionist painter, Jackson Pollock, and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, fellow artist Lee Krasner.
Starring: Ed Harris, Marcia Gay Harden, Tom Bower, Jennifer Connelly, Bud Cort, John Heard, Val Kilmer, Robert Knott, Amy Madigan, Jeffrey Tambor, Molly Regan, Sada Thompson, Eulala Scheel, Matthew Sussman, Everett Quinton, Annabelle Gurwitch, John Rothman, Kenny Scharf, Tom McGuinness, Katherine Wallach, Cassandra Clewicki, Sloane Shelton, Jake, Eduardo Machado, Moss Roberts, Robert O'Neill, Isabelle Townsend, Jennifer Piech, Rebecca Wisocky, Linda Emond, Tony Palazzolo, Barbara Garrick, David Cale, Claire Beckman, Stephen Beach, Jill Jackson, David Leary, Donna Mitchell, Sondra Jablonski, Frank Wood, Julie Anna Rose, Kyle Timothy Smith, April Petroski, Nicholas Petroski, Noah Petroski, Norbert Weisser, Stephanie Seymour, Trecker, Sally Murphy, Bob L. Harris;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 122 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Pollock” on the website imdb.com
“Basquiat”, 1996
Director: Julian Schnabel
A biopic that explores the life and meteoric rise of the influential neo-expressionist artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and his struggles with fame, addiction, and the art world's exploitation of his talent.
Starring: Jeffrey Wright, Michael Wincott, Benicio Del Toro, Claire Forlani, David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Christopher Walken, Willem Dafoe, Jean-Claude La Marre, Parker Posey, Elina Löwensohn, Paul Bartel, Courtney Love, Tatum O'Neal, Chuck Pfeiffer, Rockets Redglare, Esther G. Schnabel, Jack Schnabel, Lola Schnabel, Peter McGough, David McDermott, Michael Chow, Stella Schnabel, Steven Randazzo, Michael Badalucco, Francis Dumaurier, Joseph R. Gannascoli, Hope Clarke, Brian Wright, Tarmo Urb, Denise Burse, Robert Alexander, Vincent Laresca, Nemo, Leonard Jackson, Dave Shelley, Fred Weller, Rene Raymond Rivera, Sam Rockwell, Ron Brice, William Seymour, Richard E. Butler, Joe Glasco, Steven Parenago, Vladamir Parenago, José Luis Ferrer, Irene Kiss, Richard the Ox, Julie Araskog;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: biography, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Basquiat” on the website imdb.com
“The Painted Veil”, 2006
Director: John Curran
A romantic drama set in 1920s China, where a young art student named Kitty accompanies her husband, a bacteriologist, to a cholera-stricken village, where she finds unexpected inspiration and growth as an artist.
Starring: Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber, Diana Rigg, Toby Jones, Catherine An, Li Bin, Wu Bin, Alan David, Marie-Laure Descoureaux, Sally Hawkins, Juliet Howland, Lorraine Laurence, Johnny Lee, Feng Li, Gesang Meiduo, Yin Qing, Ian Rennick, Cheng Shihan, Liang Sijie, Maggie Steed, Henry Sylow, Zoe Telford, Lucy Voller, Anthony Wong, Lu Yan, Xia Yu, Ma Yun, Lin Zheng, Tian Hua Yao, Wu Di, Yue Qi Liu, Zhuo Er Li, Jia Yi Hu, Yu Tong Guo, Wei Xin Zhao, Chen Xi, Tong Xuan Shi, Yu Xin Tang, Qiao Jia Li Gao, Yu Yang Cheng, Jia Hui Guo, Yi Yuan Huang, Shu Hao Xu, Yue Fei, Ting Yu Meng, Zhu Yue Cheng, Qiao Ming Fang Gao, Ya Zuo Tan, John Cann;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
“Girl with a Pearl Earring”, 2003
Director: Peter Webber
A fictionalized account of the creation of the iconic painting by the Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer, and the relationship between the artist and his young maid, Griet, who becomes his model and muse.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Essie Davis, Tom Wilkinson, Judy Parfitt, Cillian Murphy, Joanna Scanlan, Alakina Mann, Chris McHallem, Gabrielle Reidy, Rollo Weeks, Anna Popplewell, Anaïs Nepper, Melanie Meyfroid, Nathan Nepper, Lola Carpenter, Charlotte Carpenter, Olivia Chauveau, Geoff Bell, Virginie Colin, Sarah Drews, Christelle Bulckaen, John McEnery, Gintare Parulyte, Claire Johnston, Marc Maes, Robert Sibenaler, Dustin James, Joe Reavis, Martin Serene, Chris Kelly, Katharina Bintz, Leslie Woodhall;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Girl with a Pearl Earring” on the website imdb.com
In the world of cinema, films about art students have always held a certain allure. They capture the essence of youth, passion, and creativity, taking us on a journey of self-discovery and artistic expression. From the rebellious spirits of “Dead Poets Society” to the transformative power of “Whiplash,” these films have managed to both inspire and challenge us. They remind us that art is not just a skill to be learned, but a way of life—a constant exploration of our innermost thoughts and emotions. Through their captivating storytelling and captivating performances, films about art students have become a vibrant tapestry that celebrates the boundless imagination and unyielding spirit of the creative soul.
