The shooting of a film about Vincent van Gogh in Drenthe started in Zweeloo this weekend. The film is made by ZOD (Zuidoost-Drenthe) Film, starring actor Pim Muda.
Rain and sun alternate on the first day of shooting the film ’23 letters from Vincent’. On November 1, 1883, Van Gogh visited Zweeloo during his three-month stay in Drenthe. That day he was able to ride with the innkeeper who went from New Amsterdam to the market in Assen.
The scene where Vincent is dropped off in Zweeloo was shot yesterday at a farm in the middle of the village. Then the film crew moved to the church. A location captured in a drawing by Van Gogh.
Lead actor Pim Muda sits in front of the church with an easel. A flock of sheep and a shepherd walk past. This is how Van Gogh captured the scene 140 years ago. In total he made 5 paintings and 20 drawings in Drenthe. He wrote 23 letters about his stay, most of them addressed to his brother Theo. He described his day trip to Zweeloo in one of those letters. He wrote enthusiastically about the colors in the village.
“Of course we all know the tormented Vincent van Gogh from his later French years,” says Muda. “But we want to show a lighter Vincent. His period in Drenthe was very important to him. Nature and the real life of people in the peat inspired him. He then discovered that he wanted nothing more than to be an artist.”
’23 Letters from Vincent’ will be shown in cinemas in October 2024.