#Hugh O&039;Flynn

[thelocalnewsma]

School committee newslets: We're back

School committee newslets: We're back #IpswichMA

Welcome back Although the disease is still around and the Delta variant is making inroads, pre-pandemic life is creeping back. The school committee held its first public meeting since early 2020 lastThursday. “We welcome the public back to these meetings,” chairman Chub Whitten said to the committee, the district’s director of technolgy, and a reporter. Although the meeting wasn’t on Zoom, it…

[spryfilm]

“Loving Vincent”  (2017)

Drama

Running Time: 95 minutes

Written & Directed by: Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman

Featuring:  Robert Gulaczyk, Douglas Booth, Jerome Flynn, Saoirse Ronan, Helen McCrory, Chris O’Dowd, John Sessions, Eleanor Tomlinson, Aidan Turner

Vincent van Gogh: “What am I in the eyes of most people – a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person – somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then – even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.”

“Loving Vincent” (2017) is a most unusual film, it is animated, by hand, reflecting some of the subject, Vincent van Gogh’s own style while at the same time covering many different time periods of his life and subsequent death. The main narrative is set over a short amount of time, after the artists seeming suicide by gunshot. This type of partial biopic is not new, that is the way it is told, what is unique is the way in which the filmmakers seemingly wanted to illustrate the artists work as well as how this changed the way in which people viewed paintings as well as the link between life, art and the struggles that van Gogh went through his entire life. Through “Loving Vincent” the viewer will learn about the anguish the artist lived through most of his life as well as moments of happiness he also enjoyed, if there is one thing that is made clear is that while he was known as a tortured artist he was loved by members of his family and friends as well as loving other people. This film also seems timely as van Gogh did suffer from depression or even a bipolar disorder, of course undiagnosed at the time, which ultimately was possibly one of the causes of his apparent suicide. This is an eye opening film not only does it open a window into van Goghs life and death, it also starts a conversation around mental health as well as suicide in a way that it has to be said is noting short of breathtaking, I absolutely loved this film, it touches on an artists work as well as his life, especially the last part of that life like few films have ever done before, particularly in a purely emotional way that an audience can feel in a real and palpable way.

“Loving Vincent” has been written and directed by Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman who both come from very different backgrounds, but who have created a film that is accessible yet educational about one of the greatest painters in history, as well as someone who is misunderstood in terms of the life he led, including the social and mental issues that he dealt with on a daily basis for his entire short life. The directors have been able to organise as well as bring together 125 painters to generate the cells that were needed to bring a story to life that reflected the artist’s own revolutionary style to such a degree that the viewer may not realise what they are actually viewing, the artists own work and life remixed and reflected on a canvas that will be seen by an absolutely huge audience. The directors have chosen a medium that is not only complex, but took over four years to complete, which meant that at times this entire process was frustrating as well as a giant undertaking to pay homage to not only van Gogh but all the people that worked on this unique work of translated art, it is something to behold. I recommend viewing on a large television with a great picture as it does look breathtaking.

The film begins one year after Vincent van Gogh’s suicide, Postman Joseph Roulin asks his son Armand to deliver Van Gogh’s last letter to his brother, Theo. Roulin finds the death suspicious, as merely weeks earlier Van Gogh claimed through letters that his mood was calm and normal. Armand reluctantly agrees and heads for Paris.

On the surface it may seem that casting voice talent is not a major part of the process of an animated film, but in regard to “Loving Vincent” this ends up being just as important as as anything else in the process, there has been no stunt casting here like there sometimes is in Hollywood animated movies, so here we have an excellent cast full of very good and recognisable actors from television and film. There is no doubt that the leads of this film are Douglas Booth as Joseph Roulin and Robert Gulaczyk as van Gogh who are both excellent, they have to portray characters that are not simple or one dimensional, in fact they are both layered and curious about life as well as how people can feel emotions so differently, of course these questions are basic to our existence as well where that will ultimately lead. As you would expect the rest of the film is rounded out with some excellent character actors who are all completely dedicated to their roles as witnesses to the last days of van Gogh as well as people telling their own stories that make up what a memory is as well as the absolute helplessness they feel in terms of the fate of the artist. The highlights are pretty obvious, these all must have been attractive parts to play to not only be a part of a film about van Gogh but to also be a part of a unique film that had the potential to touch many lives. My favourites were the always underrated Jerome Flynn as a somewhat fellow artist and friend who holds the key to many of the reasons behind the suicide, Saoirse Ronan always fantastic here shows why she is one of the great young actresses working today. The rest of the cast is rounded out with some fantastic U.K. actors in Helen McCrory, Chris O’Dowd, John Sessions and Aidan Turner who all are as authentic as could be. They all add very different aspects to this animated film in that they give so much authenticity to their parts that it flows through to the rest of the film.

“Loving Vincent” is a film that whilst it revolves around van Gogh, is about a great many ideas as well as themes. It represents the artist as a tortured soul who must feel pain and anguish to produce truly great work, as well as timeless work. Beneath that however is the underlying mental health issues that van Gogh suffered from, that he was unaware of as were the people of the time, except for the diagnosis of Melancholia which is a form of major depressive disorder, although at the time it would not have been known how serious this was or the effects it could have on a person. There are various theories about the artists health but two of the popular ones were that he suffered fromTemporal Lobe Epilepsy as well as a possible Bipolar disorder.

Van Gogh suffered from seizures which doctors, including Dr. Felix Rey and Dr. Peyron, believed to be caused by temporal lobe epilepsy. Van Gogh was born with a brain lesion that many doctors believe was aggravated by his prolonged use of absinthe causing his epileptic condition. Dr. Gachet, another of Van Gogh’s physicians, was thought to have treated his epilepsy with digitalis. This prescription drug can cause one to see in yellow or see yellow spots. This may have been one of the reasons why Van Gogh loved this color. Due to Van Gogh’s extreme enthusiasm and dedication to first religion and then art coupled with the feverish pace of his art production many believe that mania was a prominent condition in Van Gogh’s life. However, these episodes were always followed by exhaustion and depression and ultimately suicide. Therefore, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or manic depression makes sense with the accounts of these episodes in Van Gogh’s life.

“Loving Vincent” is a film that has at its heart a story about part of the life of Vincent van Gogh who is one of the most influential artists who ever lived. This film actually performs a number of jobs it tells a story about the man, gives insight into his process as well as his interactions with people and also with its use of animation visually gives the viewer an idea of what his art actually looked like. What I loved about this film was that you needn’t have known much about the man as it unfolds over the running time, not only that but with the ending credits there is even more revelations about the artist’s work, as well as some of the inspiration from many of his more well-known paintings, do not miss this movie, it is a must see!

“Loving Vincent” is available now on DVD.

Starry Starry night Paint your palette blue and grey

Look out on a summer’s day With eyes that know the Darkness in my soul. Shadows on the hills Sketch the trees and the daffodils

Catch the breeze and the winter chills

In colors on the snowy linen land. And now I understand what you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity How you tried to set them free. They would not listen They did not know how

Perhaps they’ll listen now.

Starry Starry night Flaming flo’rs that brightly blaze

Swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in Vincent’s eyes of China blue. Colors changing hue Morning fields of amber grain

Weathered faces lined in pain Are soothed beneath the artist’s Loving hand. And now I understand what you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity How you tried to set them free. Perhaps they’ll listen now.

For they could not love you But still your love was true

And when no hope was left in sight on that starry Starry night. You took your life As lovers often do; But I could have told you Vincent This world was never Meant for one As beautiful as you.

Starry Starry night Portraits hung in empty halls

Frameless heads on nameless walls With eyes That watch the world and can’t forget. Like the stranger that you’ve met

The ragged men in ragged clothes

The silver thorn of bloody rose Lie crushed and broken On the virgin snow. And now I think I know what you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity

How you tried to set them free. They would not listen They’re not List’ning still Perhaps they never will.

  DVD review: “Loving Vincent” (2017) "Loving Vincent"  (2017) Drama Running Time: 95 minutes Written & Directed by: Dorota Kobiela & Hugh Welchman…

[mantaypeli]

Loving Vincent

Como su propio título indica, ésta rendida carta de amor al genio neerlandés se disfruta mucho más desde el plano estético que narrativo. Loving Vincent es el resultado de un ímprobo trabajo. Más de un centenar de pintores recrean al óleo en esta coproducción polaco-británica el estilo del loco del pelo rojo sobre los fotogramas previamente rodados con actores de carne y hueso (Douglas Booth,…

[flickfeast]

BFI LFF 2017 - Loving Vincent (2017)

Here is our 4* #LFF2017 review of #LovingVincent:

It took filmmakers Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman more than seven years to create this feature. Comprising over 65,000 individual oil paintings created by a team of 115 artists, the result is truly unique – the world’s first fully painted animated film. Taking place a year after Van Gogh’s suicide, Loving Vincent follows Armand Roulin (Douglas Booth), a young man who is entrusted to deliver a…

[thelocalnewsma]

Contested races in store for select board and school committee

Contested races in store for select board and school committee #IpswichMA

IPSWICH — With incumbents stepping down from both the select board and school committee, a number of candidates have stepped forward to fill their shoes. Selectperson Nishan Mootafian is leaving the select board after nine years. Two candidates have filed papers to run in the election, according to Town Clerk Amy Akell. They are Sarah Player of Mile Lane and Helen Weatherall of Fellows Road, she…

[thelocalnewsma]

School budget override account running on fumes

School budget override account running on fumes #IpswichMA

IPSWICH — The school department has drawn up a draft budget of just under $33.6 million for the coming fiscal year. The budget represents an increase of 2.6%, or $852,476, over this year’s budget of around $32.7 million. The school committee discussed the budget at a recent meeting but it has not voted on a proposal yet to bring to voters at town meeting May 15. Compiled by superintendent…

[thelocalnewsma]

Goldilocks school reopening plans on tap; 20% of parents may not send kids back

Goldilocks school reopening plans on tap; 20% of parents may not send kids back #IpswichMA

By Lillian Eden

IPSWICH — The school district is required to draw up three different school reopening plans next month. Hopefully, one of them will be just right.

Meanwhile, a school survey indicates one-fifth of the town’s parents may be too worried to send their kids back for the 2021-21 school year.

“By August 10, we have to have finalized our plans for reopening,” schools…

[thelocalnewsma]

Ipswich doctor Hugh O’Flynn to head Beverly orthopedics

Ipswich doctor Hugh O’Flynn to head Beverly orthopedics #IpswichMA

By Bill Wasserman

Dr. Hugh O’Flynn of Longmeadow Drive is slated to become Beverly Hospital’s chief of orthopedics effective July 1.

O’Flynn is a board-certified and fellowship-trained reconstruction surgeon specializing in hip and knee joint replacement and reconstructive procedures.

A graduate of Ipswich High School, where he was a standout athlete and captain of the football team,…

[thelocalnewsma]

COVID-19 $1.74 million windfall means school committee postpones override request

COVID-19 $1.74 million windfall means school committee postpones override request #IpswichMA

IPSWICH — The bad news is that pandemic restrictions have disrupted the academic year and a multitude of school events.

The good news is that the school district saved a lot of money — $1,735,538 — and will put off its override request by at least a year.

The savings represent around 5.4% of fiscal year 2021’s (FY21) proposed school budget of $32.4 million.

At its meeting last week,…

[thelocalnewsma]

School committee to ask for override

School committee to ask for override #IpswichMA

IPSWICH — The school committee will be asking voters in the next year or two for a larger-than-normal increase to its budget.

At the committee’s meeting last Thursday, members were told that school budgets grow at an average rate of 4.25% a year. However, revenue, which is mostly from property taxes, increases by 3.1% a year.

This requires periodic boosts to the school district budget in…

[thelocalnewsma]

More details released on Biolabs' building proposal

More details released on Biolabs' building proposal #IpswichMA #lifeSciences #Massachusetts #RowleyMA #NorthShoreMA

IPSWICH — There will be no financial support for the town and no related state aid for New England Biolabs under its tax increment financing (TIF) plan to expand.

The privately owned life sciences company plans to build a 96,000-square-foot addition at its facility on County Road.

NEB met with the design review board and tri-board Tuesday evening, and will present its site plan to the…

[thelocalnewsma]

Next year's IHS football captains introduced

Next year's IHS football captains introduced #IpswichMA

by Melvin Bowen

On Tuesday evening, December 10, president Bill Yanakakis and the Ipswich Football Boosters held the annual Ipswich High School Football Banquet at the Masonic Temple on Topsfield Road.

After dinner, head coach Kevin Fessette got up and thanked the coaching staff offensive coordinator Mike Gorrell, line coach Peter Ginolfi, and defensive coach Zach Lampkin.

He also…

[thelocalnewsma]

Letter: You can trust Tammy to get it done

Letter: You can trust Tammy to get it done #IpswichMA

By Hugh O’Flynn

I endorse Tammy Jones for Ipswich Select Board and hope you will join me in voting for on her May 21.

I have known Tammy through her children, Phoebe and Charlotte Howe, and through her endless advocacy for our community.

Tammy has been an insightful leader on the Fincomfor the last 3 years, but I know her best from her many years championing for the children of Ipswich.

[thelocalnewsma]

With beans counted, Fincom is ready for warrant hearing

With beans counted, Fincom is ready for warrant hearing #IpswichMA

IPSWICH — The town will get a little more money from the state, no more money from vehicle excise taxes and the usual increase in income from property taxes.

Numbers for the town and school budgets were all discussed at Saturday’s “bean counting” meeting of the finance committee (Fincom), select board and school committee.

Collectively known as the tri-board, the groups outlined their…

[thelocalnewsma]

Board bids Bergner bye bye

Board bids Bergner bye bye

IPSWICH — Chris Bergner, the high school representative on the school committee, is off for greener pastures.

A senior set to attend Wentworth Institute of Technology in the fall, one of Bergner’s last acts for the school year was to attend his final meeting with the school committee.

Saying the representatives bring a different vision to the group, chairwoman Sarah Playeradded, “We truly value…

[thelocalnewsma]

School Committee Shifts $250,000 in Budget and Votes to Proceed With Doyon Work

School Committee Shifts $250,000 in Budget and Votes to Proceed With Doyon Work

IPSWICH — The school committee has voted 5-2 to proceed with plans to build a single elementary school at the Doyon site. The vote was taken at its meeting July 27. Voting against were Chub Whitten and Nicole Zito. The vote came after another long meeting to discuss the town’s school situation. In addition to remarks from the public, the school committee heard from the architects and members of…