Schalcken the Painter

This is a modest film - relatively short running time, small cast, a few simple sets - but one which is surprisingly rich and rewarding in its simplicity. Drawing on Le Fanu's short story, as well as some of Schalken's actual paintings and some Schalken-like pantings, Megahey very effectively uses natural light along with doorways and darkly humorous yet informative narration to frame romantic and ghostly scenes. The approaches of Peter Watkins, Walerian Borowczyk and John Berger are evident.