The Beauty
Genre: Drama
Director: Jim Sheridan
Writer: Jimmy Ellis
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Paul Mescal, Nell Tiger Free, Sophie Marceau, Peter Ferdinando
Plot: Plot: Vincent Montgomery (Ralph Fiennes) sits before a painting depicting a naked woman, the painting seems unfinished, with the left side done and the right a simple outline. As he stares at the painting, he begins to drink down half a bottle of whiskey. A single tear falls from his eye, before a sudden rage comes upon his face, throwing the bottle of whiskey across the room, causing a loud smash as we continue to focus on Vincent’s face.
We cut to Vincent standing in all black. As we pan back, we see Vincent at a funeral. The funeral of his wife, the woman from the painting. As the officiant speaks Vincent looks back on memories of his wife, Anisa (Sophie Marceau).
Vincent and Anisa stand in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The two of them look around at the art with Vincent stopping at “Garden with Courting Couples: Square Saint-Pierre”. He explains that the style of pointillism evokes the budding verdant atmosphere of the season, perfect for the liberating, buoyant feeling of romantic love. He continues that gardens and parks were poetic places for Van Gogh, somewhere he found the romance in the world. The two of them look to each other, reaching for each other’s hands.
Vincent and Anisa walk through the Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, Ireland. The two of them stop under an archway, Vincent reaches for a flower, picking it for Anisa. She takes it and puts it in her hair as they dance to no music, just two people clearly in love, dancing in one another’s arms.
We cut back to the present as Vincent stares at a self-portrait of himself and Anisa dancing under the archway in Enniskerry. A wry smile comes to his face, as he sits in silence, and closes his eyes. After a beat, Vincent receives a call from an art gallery director, Walter Safran (Peter Ferdinando). He reminds Vincent of his obligation to appear at the gallery to talk about his art. Vincent stays silent on the phone call before asking how many people Walter really expects to show up to see his art. Vincent reminds him, he has not painted anything new in over 10 years. Walter reminds his old friend that his work is still beloved. Vincent once more sits still, contemplating his next answer. He instead hangs up.
A young man, Aidan MacGee (Paul Mescal) and his girlfriend, Eloise MacDowell (Nell Tiger Free) stand with Walter at The Gallery. The three of them seem to be the only ones awaiting the arrival of Vincent. Becoming frustrated Eloise asks Aidan to leave, Aidan says that they should wait a while longer, he may be running a bit late. A frustrated Eloise takes Aidan’s keys and tells him that she does not understand the obsession with Vincent, why he wants his painting so bad. As Eloise walks out Walter asks Aidan if they can talk business while they wait.
A few weeks pass and Vincent has grown an unkept beard, with his hair growing longer. We can see a few broken canvasses in the background with one that remains unbroken. The half-finished portrait of Anisa. He receives a knock on his door. He sits in silence before Walter yells out that he knows he is inside. Vincent yells out for Walter to go away. Walter tells him that he was disappointed in Vincent not showing up, but, that he has some news. Vincent opens the door but does not invite Walter inside. Walter tells him that somebody has placed an offer for one of Vincent’s paintings, “The Whale Meets the Sea.” Vincent nonchalantly says that is great news, he never liked that painting anyway, his earliest work. Walter continues in saying the only caveat is that he wants to meet Vincent. Vincent declines the meeting. Walter tells him not to rush to a decision, think on it. Vincent closes the door, returning to his chair and whiskey.
Vincent wakes in his chair as he is seemingly drinking his life away, with bottles of whiskey scattered around his studio. He looks around at the broken canvasses and bottles of whiskey. He stands to walk, eventually tripping over his own feet. After struggling to stand he goes to a mirror, looking into it, letting out a gut-wrenching scream. He grabs the half-drunk bottle of whiskey and pours it down the sink. He walks back into the studio and begins to clean up his mess. After he cleans the studio, he heads to the bathroom and looks in the mirror at his long hair and beard. He proceeds to shave his beard off but leaves his longer hair. He dresses in a suit, before walking out the door.
Vincent arrives at the art gallery. He sees Walter talking with a young man in the distance and walks toward them. As he arrives Walter cuts right to the chase, he tells Vincent that the man beside him is Aidan MacGee he is the man purchasing “The Whale Meets the Sea”. Aidan and Vincent exchange pleasantries, before Walter tells the two he will leave them to it. The two men walk around the gallery talking about Vincent’s art. That’s all Aidan seems to want to talk about. After a while of chatter, Vincent stops, he explains that he does not want to sound rude, but he wants to know why it is Aidan wanted to see him, and frankly why he purchased, “The Whale Meets the Sea” of which he thinks is his worst artwork. Aidan explains that he simply wanted to chat with Vincent, and that he had a proposition for him. Aidan continues that recently he inherited a hefty sum of money, more than he knows what to do with, he had always admired Vincent’s work and decided now is a good a time as any. He says that he wants Vincent to mentor him. Vincent says no, almost instantaneous, Aidan tells him to wait and pulls out some samples of work from a briefcase. Aidan simply tells him to take the works home and examine them, he believes he won’t be disappointed. Aidan reminds him that he will pay Vincent for this, he wants to learn from one of the best. Vincent again declines saying that he is not in the right state of mind. Aidan stops pushing, finally apologising for Vincent’s loss of Anisa. Aidan agrees to let it go but pleads with Vincent to think on it. Vincent nods his head before leaving. Before walking out the door, Vincent stops and turns back thanking Aidan for purchasing “The Whale Meets the Sea”.
Vincent stands at Anisa’s gravestone, with a bunch of flowers in hand. He swaps over the dead flowers, before sitting next to the gravestone. He begins talking to Anisa, apologising for being absent for so long. He then goes on to tell her how miserable he has been. As his eyes water up he tells her how much he misses her and wishes she was here with him. Before leaving he chuckles saying someone had bought “The Whale Meets the Sea” saying that she always liked that one even though he did not. A smile comes to his face as he kisses the gravestone, walking away.
Aidan sits before a new finished painting, depicting himself staring into a wall. As he stares at the art, Eloise approaches him from behind. He doesn’t notice her at first, being zoned out, as she speaks, he hears nothing. She eventually places her hand on his shoulder, Aidan turning around to greeting Eloise as she sits on his lap. The two of them look into each other’s eyes before looking at the painting. Eloise playfully slaps Aidan on the arm, “it’s amazing”. Aidan smiles, as does Eloise. Eloise asks him if he would like a tea to which Aidan nods. While preparing the tea, Aidan tells her that he met with Vincent. A sudden change comes upon her face, questioning why he would want that, after he stood them up at his obligatory appearance. Aidan perks up a bit saying Vincent has been through it all, the ups and the downs, he can miss a date or two. Eloise continues that Aidan doesn’t need him anyway, his works of arts are masterpieces. Aidan says it isn’t just to help himself but rather for Aidan to help Vincent, his idol has not painted a new piece of work in over 10 years. Eloise still disagrees with Aidan and just simply cannot understand the obsession with Vincent. Aidan reminds her that it was his father that had the obsession with Vincent, he was the first artist that his father showed to Aidan. And “The Whale Meets the Sea” the first artwork. He continues with some tremble in his voice that Vincent may be the only thing left in this world other than himself with a link to his father. A sadness comes upon Eloise’s face as she approaches Aidan, hugging him.
Vincent sits in his studio, drinking some whiskey, playing some music in the background. He keeps on looking over to the briefcase Aidan gave him. Vincent eventually succumbs to the curiosity and looks at the artwork. As he looks through the paintings, they progressively get better, somewhat a progression of Aidan’s art. When he reaches the final piece, a smile is on his face. Something that has been missing for a long time, his passion for the arts. Vincent picks up the phone, calling Aidan.
Eloise walks around, before a phone begins ringing. She answers the phone. On the other end is Vincent, he tells her he must have the wrong number he was looking for Aidan McGee. She tells him that he must be Vincent. Vincent says he is, asking who she is. After she says who she is, Vincent tells her to let Aidan know that he wants to meet that afternoon.
Vincent and Aidan meet at a café, drinking coffee. The silence at the start is deafening before Aidan begins to ask if Vincent has come to a decision. Vincent shakes his head, but he does have some questions for Aidan. Why him, why a man that has not produced a single piece of art for over 10 years. Aidan tells him it does not matter the quantity of art produced but the quality, he reminds Vincent that many had called him the greatest artist of his generation. Vincent tells him to stop, he is not here to talk about him. He asks a few more questions before Aidan turns it around. He asks Vincent why he stopped. Vincent sits in silence, telling Aidan that the arts were no longer speaking to him, instead it was whiskey, or bourbon, anything he could get his hands on really. Aidan says that he guesses Anisa’s death had something to do with it too? You can tell Vincent does not want to talk about his wife, but he remains seated, in silence. Aidan continues saying that he can either let the grief and despair overtake him or he can use that despair as a tool, or rather a paintbrush. Work with it not against it, as Aidan did. He tells Vincent the real reason as to why he wants him as his mentor, about the relationship with his father. After a moment of silence, Vincent stands. Without saying a word, he leaves the café.
Aidan returns to Eloise, she asks how the meeting went. Aidan says he thinks he may have pushed too hard, Vincent just stood and left. Eloise reminds him she thinks he is brilliant without him. Aidan stands and begins to raise his voice, telling Eloise to stop saying that, stop making him feel good, he doesn’t want that, he wants the truth about his art. Eloise becomes agitated as the two begin to argue, with Eloise adamant that she is telling the truth, why would she lie. Aidan calms back down, apologising, he just wants everything to work out.
After returning home Vincent immediately takes a canvas and his paints. He simply paints the canvas black, before sitting back and staring at the canvas. He then draws one singular flower (the same flower he gave Anisa in Enniskerry). He calls Aidan and tells him to meet him at the gallery.
Vincent stands talking with Walter, in his hand, his recent artwork. Walter commends him on working again, he wonders what made him pick up the brush. Aidan walks in the door, “He did.” Before Aidan can say a word Vincent tells him he will mentor him. A smile comes upon Aidan’s face before shaking Vincent’s hand. Vincent tells Walter that he should be expecting a lot more art from him soon enough.
Aidan takes Vincent to his studio. A tiny studio in comparison to Vincent’s. Upon entry Aidan immediately introduces Vincent to Eloise. Vincent grabs her hand and places a kiss on it. He tells her that it is lovely to meet her. Eloise smiles, “and you.” She asks the two if they would want anything before, they start. Aidan says that he would love a tea, and Vincent a whiskey. Vincent shakes his head no, he doesn’t drink anymore, a tea would be grand. When Eloise leaves Vincent comments that she reminds him of Anisa. “How’s that?” Vincent begins to reminisce, “an ever-loving grace and beauty.” Vincent tells her not to let that go for as long as he can.
Aidan begins to show Vincent some of his works, with Vincent being attracted to his self portrait with the wall. He begins to ask questions about it, finishing the questioning with have you shown Walter? Aidan shakes his head, not thinking it’s ready. Vincent tells him that his first lesson for Aidan is that when you, as the artist know something could be greatness, you tend to push it to the back and believing it is subpar. He continues saying that this particular piece of art, is exceptional. Instead of being in a studio, this should be in a gallery. Eloise brings in the tea. He takes it and asks her what she thinks of Aidan’s painting. Eloise tells Vincent she thinks its great, Aidan won’t believe her. Vincent tells her to elaborate why it is great. She then tells Vincent the meaning behind the painting or at least her grasp on it. Vincent smiles thanking Eloise. Vincent looks to Aidan, the two people that have seen the painting have called it exceptional. Vincent pulls out his phone, calling Walter. On speaker Vincent tells Walter that he must take in Aidan’s painting, as not only a favour to Vincent but it will be a favour for himself. Vincent believes a new mind in the gallery will attract more eyes to it. Walter says he will take a look.
Aidan leaves to take his artwork to the gallery, Vincent says he will stay here and look at some of his other works. Vincent looks around at the artwork as Eloise sits on the couch in the studio. She offers Vincent a seat, which he takes. The two of them begin to talk, with every passing word they speak, she reminds him more of Anisa. As they continue to talk, Eloise mentions that she did not know if he would be good for Aidan, but she sees now that not only is he good for Aidan but Aidan is for he. She then asks if he is working on a piece of art at the moment. He says he was. What does that mean? He was working on a piece before his beloved Anisa had passed. She says that she would love to see it. Vincent nods his head, yes. She suggests they go now. Vincent wonders whether they should wait for Aidan, but she says she will message him the address.
Vincent shows Eloise around his studio, until they come upon the unfinished painting. She looks at it, before suggesting something. She be his new muse, he has already finished one side of the painting make her the other half. He thinks on it for a second, and closes his eyes, envisioning the painting. He agrees, setting up his canvas and the paints. Eloise stands before him and takes her clothes off. Vincent positions her how Eloise was standing. Eloise continuously flashes back and forth from herself to Anisa as Vincent paints. Aidan walks in, but is shooshed by Eloise, he sits back and watches his idol at work.
After a long time, visible by Vincent’s bags under his eyes and the yawning coming from Eloise, the painting is finished. Aidan is just as excited to see it as Eloise is. When he looks at it his jaw drops. Amazing. Eloise puts her clothes back on and looks at it. She hugs Vincent and Aidan. Before remembering where Aidan had been. She asks how it went. With a big smile on his face he says that they are looking at the newest artist at The Gallery. A huge congratulations is in order for the two, as they drink champagne and have a toast.
Vincent and Aidan stand before a crowd of people in The Gallery. There are cloths over 3 paintings. Aidan delivers a speech, about his painting, and what it means to him. He then proceeds to talk up Vincent and the effect his works have had on his life. Vincent thanks Aidan before unveiling his newest pair of paintings; “Flower For Anisa” and “The Beauty of Natural Age”. He calls up Eloise as one of his muses and tells the audience that without Eloise and Aidan these paintings would be non-existent. It was them that pulled him from the depths of despair. The two artists hang their works on the wall of The Gallery, a smile forming on Aidan’s face and a tear coming from Vincent’s.
