Schnabel's At Eternity's Gate portrays the last years of Vincent van Gogh's life in ways never seen before as you are immediately drawn in by the intense colors, passionate music, and pronounced pathos of this drama. The story begins with an art show in gloomy Paris. His paintings stick out like a sore thumb and his misery is clear. Yearning to "find a new light," his friend Gauguin (Oscar Isaac) tells him to go south, and thus Vincent's journey begins in the brights and beautiful Arles, France. The epitome of a "starving artist," Vincent (William Dafoe) is living off of his brother Theo and is barely scraping together the money to live, yet he is inspired and continues to paint in spite of the explicit hatred for his work.

After persistent teasing from schoolchildren, harsh criticism from their teacher, and boys throwing rocks at him, Vincent has a violent outbreak and is placed in a hospital. Here is the first glimpse of the severity of van Gogh's mental health and stability. Dafoe is able to depict fear and anxiety in a heartbreaking way. One of the most vulnerable and emotional scenes, the stark white and lack of color in the hospital room draws all of your attention to the bond between Vincent and his brother Theo as we see them cling to each other for a few fleeting moments of comfort.

After Gauguin, Vincent's best friend, tells him that he is leaving, it is clear that this is a breaking point for Vincent. He wails in agonizing pain as my eyes and those of the audience surrounding me well with tears. This is what sparks his descent into madness. The fits of violence and anxiety get worse as painting is all that is left for van Gogh. He paints in a fever state, saying that "the faster I paint, the better I feel." He goes on in this fervid state until the end of his unacknowledged career.

Schnabel was able to capture the last moments of the life of Vincent van Gogh in a way that kept the audience engaged and in awe of his own artistic talent. A shaky, handheld camera (disliked by some, but adored by me) was an element that added to the intimacy of the film, and at times gave some small insight into the hectic, turbulent mind of Vincent. With a handheld camera, there is expression and a sense of freedom that may not be present with a steadicam, and I felt that this addition was key to be able to accurately portray the passion in this film. The yellows and blues that van Gogh is famous for using in his work are dominant in At Eternity's Gate; during pivotal moments, the scenes were tinted and layered excessively with a singular colour that established the emotion of the artist. Another element that was significant in my final perception of the film was the music. Tatiana Lisovskaia's scores were beautifully written accentuated the highs and lows of the film. Nearly ever-present, the music enhanced the movie in a tasteful way, and any moment without it felt empty and lifeless.

Schnabel's view of van Gogh is romantic, and the audience can't help but feel the same way as we see his brush fly across the canvas creating some of the most admired pieces of artwork today. Van Gogh states that "existence can't be without reason," and as the film comes to a close, we see that he has found his reason-his "relationship to eternity." At Eternity's Gate is one of the best movies I've seen on van Gogh, and the raw emotion it evoked in myself and the audience around me is something to be applauded. It is a film worth watching, and one that will stay planted in my memory for years to come.