Extraordinary film looks into artist’s mind, fears, and his questions about whether he was really even human
William Kurelek’s The Maze is a documentary about the life of celebrated Canadian artist William Kurelek, dramatically told through his paintings and his on camera revelations. The film takes an intimate look into the life of one of the 20th century’s most fascinating artists and his struggles with attempted suicide and a self professed “spiritual crisis”. Kurelek describes “The Maze” as a painting he painted while in England as a patient in Maudsley and Netherne psychiatric hospitals.
The film itself has an intriguing history, first released in 1969 in a short version missing much of the original content. Now, over 40 years later, the longer version has been recovered and brought to life by the original filmmaker’s (Robert M. Young) sons, Nick Young and Zack Young. They took a passionate interest in completing their father’s work into the final film now being released today.
William Kurelek’s The Maze is being featured in Canada at the first major retrospective of William Kurelek’s art in over 25 years at three major museums across the country. The exhibit has arrived in Victoria, and the film will screen at the popular Movie Monday series on Monday, July 9 and at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria on August 16, 2012.
We speak with Bruce Saunders, the founder and organizer of Movie Monday, and with Nick Young, director of the film.
Image from William Kurelek’s “The Maze” website.
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