Van Gogh and the Weight of Self Expression

Location: Pablo Creek Regional - Community Room B

Join us for a dynamic group discussion! Please note: We will not be watching the movie during the event, however, viewing it beforehand is not required.

Loving Vincent (2017) is a visually stunning, fully painted animated film that explores the life and mysterious death of Vincent van Gogh. Set a year after his passing, the story follows a young man tasked with delivering one of Van Gogh’s final letters. Along the way, he interviews those who knew the artist, uncovering conflicting stories and emotional truths. The film weaves together questions about identity, mental health, legacy, and how we understand a life through art and memory. Every frame of the movie is hand-painted in Van Gogh’s distinctive style, making it as much a tribute to his vision as it is an investigation of his story.

Identity & Legacy

• Can a person’s identity ever truly be known, or is it always filtered through the perceptions of others?

• What determines someone’s legacy: the life they lived, the work they left behind, or how others choose to remember them?

Art & Expression

• Is creating art a form of personal healing, or can it also be a burden?

• What role does suffering play in creativity, if any?

• Should society separate the art from the artist, especially if the artist struggled with mental illness or moral controversy?

Mental Health & Meaning

• How should we think about genius and mental illness—are they linked, or is that a cultural myth we’ve created?

• If someone feels deeply misunderstood in their lifetime, can that still be considered a meaningful life?

Transformation & Purpose

• Can one moment of kindness or curiosity change how we view a person’s entire life or story?

• Is transformation something that happens through introspection, action, or how others interpret our choices?

Culture & Perception

• How do cultural values shape who we consider to be "important" or "worthy" of being remembered?

• In what ways does the retelling of someone’s life—through biographies, films, or public memory—change the truth of who they were?

Morality & Responsibility

• Do we have a moral responsibility to understand those who suffer, even if their struggles make us uncomfortable?

• When someone dies under mysterious or tragic circumstances, who has the right to ask questions—and who decides when to stop searching for answers?