''Golub'' is a 1988 documentary film, produced by

Kartemquin Films Kartemquin Films is a four-time Oscar-nominated 501(c)3 non-profit production company located in Chicago, Illinois, that produces a wide range of documentary films. It is the documentary filmmaking home of acclaimed producers such as Gordon Quinn ( ...

, that examines the life and work of controversial painter,

Leon Golub Leon Golub (January 23, 1922 – August 8, 2004) was an American painter. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he also studied, receiving his Bachelor of Arts, BA at the University of Chicago in 1942, and his Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA and Ma ...

. Inspired by war, political oppression and the fight for Free Speech, Golub and his paintings are famous for their depictions of extreme violence. Also featured prominently in the film is his wife, anti-war feminist and artist,

Nancy Spero Nancy Spero (August 24, 1926 – October 18, 2009) was an American visual artist. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Spero lived for much of her life in New York City. She married and collaborated with artist Leon Golub. As both artist and activist, Nanc ...

. The documentary tracks Golub from starting with a blank canvas to a touring North American exhibition and eventually to an exhibition in Northern Ireland. In 2001, the filmmakers revisited Leon Golub in his final years, and in 2004 released the documentary, ''Golub: Late Works Are The Catastrophes''. With his previous work being more relevant than ever in the aftermath of September 11, Golub's later paintings have become less graphic and violent. At one point, Golub admits, "my work these days is sort of political, sort of metaphysical, and sort of smart-ass. I'm playful and hostile." With his wife Nancy Spero still by his side, the documentary captures the final steps of an artist's journey. Produced by

and directed by Jerry Blumenthal and

Gordon Quinn Gordon Quinn is Artistic Director and founding member of Kartemquin Films and a 2007 recipient of the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. Gordon Quinn has been making documentaries for over 45 years and has produced or dire ...

, Golub (1988) was the winner of the Silver Hugo Award at the 1988 Chicago International Film Festival. The film went on to be an Official Selection at multiple international film festivals including the Cinematica of Portugal and the Sydney International Film Festival. In a February 1989 review of ''Golub'', the ''Chicago Reader''s Jonathan Rosenbaum hailed the documentary as a "masterpiece" and "virtually perfect"."Painter At Work".
Rosenbaum, Jonathan. ''The Chicago Reader''. 17 Feb. 1989. Retrieved. 26 Dec. 2011. The film made its television premiere on PBS's POV in 1990. Golub: Late Works Are The Catastrophes would also receive worldwide recognition as an Official Selection at the 2004 International Documentary Festival Amsterdam as well as the Montreal International Film Festival of the Arts. In 2006, Kartemquin Films released Golub/Spero a DVD compilation of ''Golub: Late Works Are The Catastrophes'' that also features two documentary shorts created by filmmaker, Irene Sosa, that highlight the work of Nancy Spero.

References

External links

''Golub'' Official Site

''Golub: Late Works Are The Catastrophes'' Official Site

Kartemquin Films

IMDB- ''Golub''

IMDB - ''Golub: Late Works Are The Catastrophes''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Golub (Film) Documentary films about painters 1988 films 1988 documentary films Kartemquin Films films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films