Impressionists: Seurat [VHS] [Import]

This epic documentary does a wonderful job of recapturing the revolutionary impact the impressionists made while providing a historical and artistic context for this extraordinary group of painters. The work of Monet, Degas, Morisot, and their fellow impressionists has now become so familiar that its power to shock has all but disappeared.

Young and resolutely modern, these artists threw off the shackles of academic art to capture everyday life in paintings that were iconoclastic in both style and subject. At first they struggled to survive because their work was rejected by the conservative Paris Salon, but those with independent means helped those without (Monet in particular was frequently rescued from poverty by his friends), and gradually they became impossible to ignore. Bruce Alfred's script thoroughly explains the development of the impressionists' approach to art and reveals fascinating aspects of their individual personalities, while a combination of dramatic reconstructions, period photographs, and the paintings themselves creates a rich and informative visual tapestry. Anyone with an interest in the history of art will find much to enjoy. --Simon Leake

DVD is the perfect medium for this documentary. The paintings--both in the film and in the accompanying photo gallery--look wonderful, and each disc includes a timeline of important events. --Simon Leake

They ignited a revolution with an explosion of color and movement. Their vibrant canvases confounded critics, defied conventions and sparked scandal. A century and a half later, they are among the most revered and influential artists of all time. Venturing from the garrets and cafes of 19th-century Paris to the galleries where their priceless works are displayed today, THE IMPRESSIONISTS tells the story of the first truly modern artistic movement, focusing on five of its most important practitioners: Renoir, Monet, Degas, Pissarro and Morisot. Their determination to remain true to their convictions--and the price they paid as a result--is vividly captured in their own words, taken from letters and diaries, while the world's foremost authorities offer fascinating insights into their lives and work. From the producers of A&E's acclaimed BIOGRAPHY series comes a groundbreaking look at the figures behind the other French Revolution.