Dive into the extraordinary life of artist H.C. Westermann, a Marine veteran who navigated the profound traumas of war by making art and subsequently became a hero to generations of artists.
Westermann is a documentary about artist, Marine, and acrobat H.C. (Cliff) Westermann. As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Westermann’s dramatic life can be traced through beguiling, surreal artworks he made to process the horrors he witnessed on the front lines. Follow how Westermann protected his empathic spirit—and sanity—by "sculpting" his body, artworks, friendships, his hand-hewn house, and his letters to friends and family. Featuring four-time Academy Award nominee Ed Harris as the voice of Westermann. [86 min; documentary; English]
Before the film, head over to the Eskenazi Museum of Art from 12-12:30pm as Jean Graves leads a gallery talk and activity related to the museum's Westermann piece Cliff, which was a collaboration between the artist and his wife. Free, registration required.
"Staggeringly powerful; mind-blowing." — artist Frank Gehry
"[Westermann's] hand-carved wooden sculptures pop off cinema screens." — Art Report Today
"The details provided by [Westermann's] letters and the heartfelt interviews with his family and friends (famous and otherwise), coupled with the 3D focus on his handcrafted objects, here provide a unique kind of intimacy with the subject." — Art Newspaper
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
