By William Wolf

HOCKNEY  Send This Review to a Friend

The documentary “Hockney,” directed by Randall Wright, about the life and talent of David Hockney, is awash in color, thanks to both the artist’s work and surroundings of where he has lived. Whether one is a fan of his art or not, the film makes a strong case for his creativity and choice of subjects, and the perspective with which he has eyed his subjects and nature.

It is striking to see early clips of Hockney, young and blond, all the more so when contrasted with his older image. Hockney, now 78, talks fascinatingly about his life in segments interspersed with evidence of his paintings. When we see him in the locations of his life, it is almost as if they are extensions of his work. Beauty and splashes of color permeate so much of Wright’s film.

We learn much about Hockney’s life and views, as it should be in a worthy documentary. Coming from East Yorkshire in England, he was fascinated by movies and headed for California, where he began to thrive and form important friendships. The film encompasses the personal ties that have meant so much to him and the tragedies he has endured or witnessed, such as the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic that claimed the lives of so many he knew. Hockney has lived his life openly as a gay man, and makes that aspect seem totally natural. He comes across as an artist and human being who knows who he is and appears secure in reflecting upon his life.

As interesting as Wright makes the biographical portrait, the pleasure in the film comes mainly from looking at the array of work included and the various settings. Toward the end, as we see Hockney strolling through the outdoor part of his home, we get a further sense of the physical beauty that he has made part of his everyday life.

The strength of “Hockney” lies not only in the details of the man revealed, but in the communication of what informs his paintings. A Film Movement release. Reviewed April 22, 2016.

  

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