The Electrical Life of Louis Wain - 2021, Dir. Will Sharpe.
(I questioned whether this belongs in this thread, but Wain's life and work certainly are tinged with Fortean elements, as is the film.)
I just saw this picture, in which Benedict Cumberbatch plays the artist, known for his cat paintings and drawings, whose work is often used (perhaps unfairly) to illustrate his supposed descent into schizophrenia.
Like all biopics, this one takes clear stances on matters such as Wain's mental states and the influence of his sisters on his life. Since the purpose of a film like this is to tell an interesting story, not be a staged documentary, that's fine. And tell an interesting story it does. If there's a major problem with the film, it's that it appears to have had a 3 or 4 hour rough cut, or at least a script that long; many elements seem inadequately explained or resolved. (I much prefer Hitchcock's goal of having the "editing" done before you start shooting, but that is a dying art.) Still, this sometimes works to the film's advantage, leaving a oddball sense of mystery that never overpowers the basic story. One interesting aspect is a refreshing approach to late Victorian repression: the primary characters are quite modern as individuals, but they are shaped by the expectations of society, sometimes leading to quirky behavior when these forces are at odds. Cumberbatch is particularly good at this type of thing.
I was also struck by the film's visual power. Much like Wain himself, the film has no single overriding style. It can be realistic, impressionistic, surrealistic, psychedelic, and for one brief segment wanders into1960s/70s sci-fi influenced pop art. Some of the artificially enhanced long shots are reminiscent of the old days of glass matte painting backgrounds - truly beautiful to behold.
All in all a good experience.