• Close to Vermeer captivated me. I went in without knowing much about Johannes Vermeer and I came out with loaded information and a sense of admiration for the painter. More than his works - which are notable for having been made using the expensive ultramarine colour - I was piqued by Vermeer's domestic life. With about a dozen children to feed and a classists MIL, I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to sustain only dealing in paintings. The documentary gives a good lowdown to his life and how his works have baffled artists centuries later. Although I did feel that the docu slants to an isolated topic towards the end rather than focusing on the general aspects of his work and the related exhibition in Amsterdam, I was inspired by it. Special nod to the screen resolution transitions. Heck, I'm now also interested in the cast here who talk so passionately about Vermeer; one guy even cried. Watch it.

    (Watched at the 2023 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.)