Kumu Documentary: Hopper: An American Love Story
Dir Phil Grabsky
USA 2022, 90 min
In English, with English subtitles
Introduction by artist Tõnis Saadoja
Hopper’s work is the most recognisable art in America: popular, praised and mysterious. Countless painters, photographers, film-makers and musicians have been influenced by his art, including Rothko, Banksy, Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch and even The Simpsons. But who was he, and how did a struggling illustrator create such a bounty of notable work?
This film explores the enigmatic personality behind the brush, taking a deep look into Edward Hopper’s art, his life and his relationships: his early career as an illustrator, his wife giving up her own promising art career to be his manager, and his critical and commercial acclaim.
Combined with expert interviews, diaries and a startling visual reflection of American life, the documentary brings to life America’s arguably most influential artist.
Phil Grabsky is an award-winning documentary film-maker. With a career spanning 25 years, Phil and his company, Seventh Art Productions, make films for cinema, television and DVD. His biggest project to date is the creation of a unique documentary series, Exhibition on Screen, which brings major art exhibitions, and the stories of both galleries and artists, to a worldwide audience.
