The Eyes of Orson Welles

About 'The Eyes of Orson Welles'

"The Eyes of Orson Welles" is a 2018 documentary by the British filmmaker Mark Cousins. The film is both a love letter and an exploration, diving deep into the visual world of the legendary director, actor, and writer Orson Welles.

Mark Cousins’ documentary - which could be better described as an essay, or even a love letter - invites us to look at Welles’ work and his world through his drawings and paintings. These artworks are woven together with movie clips, interviews, and footage of places where Welles lived and worked.

Making / Production

The film was directed and produced by Mark Cousins. Cousins was given unprecedented access to hundreds of unseen drawings and paintings by Welles, opening up a new perspective on the acclaimed director’s artistic journey.

Actors

• Mark Cousins: More of a narrator than an actor for this film, Cousins did an outstanding job guiding the viewers through Welles' visual world.
• Orson Welles: Although Welles was not acting in the documentary, his old interviews and creative work were the core of the film content.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Mark Cousins was given access to a treasure of unseen sketches and paintings made by Orson Welles, which served as the basis of the film.
• The film provides unique insights into Welles’ extraordinary mind for creativity and storytelling.

Awards

The movie has not won any awards but has garnered immense critical praise for its innovative and insightful approach.

Quotes

• "An artist needs a studio, a filmmaker needs a world."
• "The enemy of art is the absence of limitations."
• "Create your own visual style, let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others."

Music, Soundtrack

• The movie uses various pieces of Orson Welles’ original scores from his films.
• It also includes modern pieces that help set the tone and mood of the film.