Film - ERIC RAVILLIOUS: DRAWN TO WAR plus Q+A with Director Margy Kinmonth

Off the Wall Films presents

ERIC RAVILLIOUS: DRAWN TO WAR

Margy Kinmonth, UK, 2022, 87m, PG

NB - Doors at 5:30pm for a 6:30pm start. The programme will end around 9:00pm. Pre-screening supper, available to pre-order only, served in the Waterside 5:30 - 6:15pm. To order supper simply buy a meal ticket as listed above (nb - supper bookings will close at 12:00 midnight on the Saturday before the screening).

One of Britain’s greatest landscape artists, Eric Ravilious was killed in a plane crash while on commission as Official War Artist in Iceland in 1942, the first WW2 artist to die on active service. His life is as compelling and enigmatic as his art, set against the dramatic wartime locations that inspired him. This first full length feature documentary about Ravilious brings to life a unique and still grossly undervalued British artist caught in the crossfire of war 80 years ago. His legacy largely sank without trace, until a cache of his paintings were discovered some 40 years after his death under fellow artist Edward Bawden’s bed, and an substantial 2015 exhibition of his watercolours (he hated oils) mounted by the Dulwich Picture Gallery brought him to much wider attention.

Told in his own words through previously unseen private correspondence, this engrossing and revelatory film includes contributions from Ai Weiwei, Alan Bennett, Grayson Perry, Tamsin Grieg, Freddie Fox, Robert Macfarlane and many more. It was released widely – unusual for an artist documentary - in Ravilious’s 80th anniversary year, and goes a long way to establish his stature as one of the leading English painters of the 20th century.

You are invited to stay for a Q+A with director Margy Kinmonth following the screening.

"Ravishing Ravilious; a visionary who celebrated England in war and peace...". – The Times.

“The film makes a case that Ravilious should be regarded, alongside the likes of Turner and Constable, as one of Britain’s great landscape artists.” – The Guardian.

“This fine overview does convince you of his singularity, while also coaxing you into the sunlit, subtly clouded uplands of his lost world.” – The Daily Telegraph.

“A superbly mounted retrospective at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in 2015 helped raise Eric Ravilious’ reputation in the art world; let’s hope that this ingenious and beautiful documentary will help even more.” – The Arts Desk.

“This evocative documentary does a great job at bringing its subject to life. Through his diary entries and letters (read by Freddie Fox), Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War captures the artist's charm and joy for life.” – Common Sense Media.

“Margy Kinmonth’s documentary about wartime artist Eric Ravilious makes good use of both his art and his letters and diary entries, while not neglecting the role and significance of his wife, Tirzah Garwood.” – Sight & Sound.

“Margy Kinmonth’s documentary makes a good case for the richness of Ravilious’s body of work, and for his status as a significant English artist.” – Sight & Sound.

Voluntary donations - Off the Wall Films is a not-for-profit enterprise. All donations - very gratefully received - will go towards improving the OtWF programme and the presentation of films at WSC.

Carers' tickets - we offer complimentary tickets to carers of people with disabilities. If you would like to attend the screening along with the person in your care please message  [email protected]  with your request for a ticket. Please note - you are eligible for this offer only if you are accompanied by a paying person with disabilities.