PVCC Presents O’Keeffe Documentary and Q&A
Since the start of the so-called “streaming era,” many have feared the movie theater business is in danger – a fear that was only heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. While the ease of streaming certainly offers benefits, nothing quite compares to the shared experience of watching a film in a packed theater. PVCC’s “Films Talk Back” series offers this experience with the bonus of a talk from an expert on the film. Recently, the series presented Georgia O’Keeffe: The Brightness of Light, a documentary on the famous artist produced by local filmmakers Paul and Ellen Wagner, who appeared after the screening for a Q&A with the audience.
On Friday, Jan. 23, the Main Stage Theatre of the V. Earl Dickinson Building was filled with roughly 120 members of the community, gathered for an evening of film, art, and discussion. After a brief introduction by Fenella Belle, PVCC’s chairperson of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, the roughly two-hour film began. Largely based on recovered letters written by O’Keeffe and read by actress Claire Danes, the documentary explored the famous artist’s life, inspiration, artistic development, and impact on American art and culture. It also featured clips from previous documentaries and interviews with O’Keeffe and several art scholars and historians.
When the film concluded, the producers came onto the stage to briefly discuss the making of the film and answer audience questions. They described how they had taken inspiration from an exhibit at the Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia – where O’Keeffe briefly lived and studied. The publication of O’Keeffe’s letters made the documentary possible, providing what the producers called a “narrative thread” to “unlock the story of who Georgia O’Keeffe was.” The Wagners emphasized their desire to separate O’Keeffe from the overly sexualized lens through which art critics and fans have historically viewed her.
The Q&A allowed the audience to take a glimpse at the producers’ expertise, knowledge, and passion for their art. Through tangents on minute details, explanations of their artistic choices, descriptions of the broader artistic context of the film, and candid answers to questions, Paul and Ellen Wagner’s love for their work shone.
The opportunity for audience members to share their thoughts and questions also highlighted the impact this film has on viewers. Many members of the audience praised the film, with one referring to it as “masterfully done,” another as “absolutely incredible,” and a third telling the producers, “I appreciate how you highlighted her coming to Charlottesville.” The producers seemed to appreciate the communal aspect of the showing as well, saying, “We love having an audience sit and watch it together.” The film is currently showing in around 90 theaters across the country, with plans for it to be available to stream on Kanopy soon. The Wagners also shared some of the feedback they have received. They said the most frequent comment was, “I thought I knew everything about Georgia O’Keeffe, and I knew nothing.”
