Van Gogh (1991 film)
Van Gogh is a 1991 French biographical drama directed, written, and produced by Maurice Pialat. Jacques Dutronc stars as Vincent van Gogh. The 158-minute film is set in 1890 and follows the last 67 days of van Gogh’s life, focusing on his struggles and his relationships with his brother Theo, the physician Paul Gachet (and Gachet’s daughter, Marguerite), and the women around him. It emphasizes van Gogh’s mental decline and the social dynamics of the time, rather than his artwork or dramatic moments like the famous ear incident.
The movie is noted for its understated, anti-melodramatic approach, and is often contrasted with Vincente Minnelli’s Lust for Life. It omits many famous events in van Gogh’s life in favor of a closer look at his humanity and daily existence.
Van Gogh premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991 and was France’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 64th Academy Awards, though it was not nominated. Jacques Dutronc won the César Award for Best Actor in 1992. The film received praise from notable filmmakers, including a glowing letter of commendation from Jean-Luc Godard. Critics highlighted its focus on ordinary moments over iconic art moments.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Van Gogh holds a 77% approval rating from 13 reviews, with an average score of 7.2/10.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 05:57 (CET).