In 2009 Lifetime released an original made for TV biopic on the life of the influential American female artist Georgia O’Keeffe. The title of the film simply bears the name of the artist herself. Recently this movie was released on DVD and while on a rental hunt I stumbled upon it. In my research I found that this film was nominated for 3 Golden Globes and had been aired in September 2009 on Lifetime.
Georgia O’Keeffe stars Oscar winners Joan Allen as O’Keeffe and Jeremy Irons as her husband and photographer Alfred Stieglitz. Not only does Allen star in this film but she also is one of its producers. The film begins when O’Keeffe first meets and confronts Stieglitz at his art boutique in New York. Stieglitz displayed O’Keeffe’s work without her permission and he soon convinces her to let him to continue to hang them. This is where the beginning of a work relationship turns into a romance that is not without controversy.
The love affair between the two artists has its twists, turns, and tribulations which leads Georgia to take a trip to a friend’s home in New Mexico. This is where O’Keeffe finds a sense of renewed inspiration and her own voice. Things she was not finding in New York. As many fans of O’Keeffe’s work knows New Mexico was turning point in her life and became the center of her most influential work. After Stieglitz dies O’Keeffe returns to New Mexico where it is said she produced over 130 works. O’Keeffe died when she was 98 years old.
This film did an excellent job of showcasing some well known pieces from the O’Keeffe collection. I think this film could have gone a little further in to her artistic creation. There are some unclear areas that were just simply summed up in a monologue but perhaps it leaves you to curiosity to do your own research of the unknown. I feel if this were a bigger budget film it would have filled those gaps. All in all this was a well done movie, entertaining, and educational. I try my best not to give too much away in my reviews. Some things are unavoidable in biography films to reveal. I want my readers to view and review the films for themselves. With that being said, I would recommend if you are an artist movie fan to give this one a viewing and see what you walk away from this film feeling.
For more information on this film visit these reference links:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320286/
http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/georgia-okeeffe
For more information on the life of Georgia O’Keefe visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_O%27Keeffe
http://www.georgia-okeeffe.com/
http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/
