Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War (2022)
This fascinating documentary is a portrait of war painter Eric Ravilious movingly argues for his place as a vital figure upon the landscape of British art.
The first official war artist to die in active service during the Second World War, Ravilious was on a plane that went missing off the coast of Iceland on 2 September 1942. By that time, he had established himself as one of the most distinctive, prolific and successful artists, the accessibility of his work attracting a sizeable following. This popularity might have led to him being unfairly dismissed – a situation that Margy Kinmonth’s meticulous and hugely engaging film seeks to remedy.
With contributions from many other artists, director Margy Kinmonth’s film journeys through Ravilious’ short but eventful life, with specific focus on his development as an artist and the work he produced during the War. And at the heart of the film lies the work itself, which is passionate, hugely accomplished and waiting to be discovered by a new generation of admirers.
Made with the blessing of the Ravilious Estate, this first full-length feature documentary about Ravilious unfolds in his own words, through previously unseen private correspondence and rare archive film.
Shot entirely on location in the UK, Portugal, and Ireland, the film features Ai Weiwei, Alan Bennett, Grayson Perry, Robert Macfarlane with Freddie Fox, Tamsin Greig, and many more.
“Fascinating portrait of the great British artist”
The Guardian ★★★★
“The landscape and war artist comes marvellously alive in this thoughtful, star-studded documentary”
The Telegraph ★★★★
“A touching search for a missing artist”