Benedict Cumberbatch - Van Gogh Painted with Words 5 of 6

Original Air Date BBC 2 on Mon 5 Apr 2010 Drama-documentary presented by Alan Yentob, with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role as Van Gogh.

Every word spoken by the actors in this film is sourced from the letters that Van Gogh sent to his younger brother Theo, and of those around him. What emerges is a complex portrait of a sophisticated, civilised and yet tormented man.

This is Van Gogh's story in his own words.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• benedict
• cumberbatch

[missmonsi321]

That poor man. Too bad Van Gogh never got to see how great his artwork is apreciated nowadays.

[colincomposer]

riveting

[TachieBillano]

Love how the actor they cast as Dr. Felix Rey looks just like Van Gogh's painting of him.

[otakus13creed]

@MissSinger2000

hey I know how ya feel, but there's a show called doctor Who. There's and episode called "Vincent and the doctor" I think you'll like it. I know I did.

[lekkerereet]

poor guy Van Gogh, sold 1 or 2 paintings through his life and now they are worth milions...how ironic

[Ashleyls17]

If Van Gogh had much more supportive and loving parents throughout his life he would have had a better support system to rely on. I think that would have helped him immensely through these times of depression. He also would not have had the all consuming inadequacy feelings about himself. His parents really started that with him. (Who doesn't have a ton of baggage form their parents?) Hate to see where we would be without his brother.

[KitchenKiller95]

@KitchenKiller95

oooh nevermind. it's the mirror

[KitchenKiller95]

weird thing is, they keep changing the side the bandage is on (is that good grammar?)

[Siabohnic]

@TheBlackWhirlwind "Unrequited love"? I've always wondered how his story might have been different had he only been loved back. Not only by some individual, but by the entire world around him. I think society owes him an apology, for not taking the love and gifts he offered so freely and returning them. His is such a sad sad story. It is so rare for an artist to be so honest in their works. To have that honesty rebuffed would drive anyone to the despair he felt.

[TheBlackWhirlwind]

@MissSinger2000

Alas, I doubt fame would have been all that comforting to someone like Van Gogh, who disliked the excessive and narcissistic competitiveness of the art world, in which money intercepts hands on a grand scale. Van Gogh painted to express his deeper feelings on life, and I think it was ultimately unrequited love and the desire (and failure) to father a family of his own which ultimately caused his mental collapse.

[MissSinger2000]

I think it's so sad that a man with such talent and ambition never got to see his talent appreciated. Van Gogh has inspired many artists and its tradgic he died so early in life. As Brian May sang: 'Only the good die young' :'( This drama is so touching and Benedict Cumberbatch is............so brilliant and a sensational actor! Love him!! :) xxx