Watch Brush With Fate

Brush with Fate is a 2003 television movie directed by Brent Shields and based on the novel 'Girl in Hyacinth Blue' by Susan Vreeland. Set in various historic periods, the film is the story of a mysterious painting that changes the lives of people who come into contact with it. The movie features an all-star cast, led by Ellen Burstyn, Glenn Close, and Thomas Gibson.

The painting in question is a seemingly unremarkable piece of art that depicts a young girl wearing a blue hyacinth dress sitting at a table in front of an open window. Every time it changes hands, it brings with it a new tale of love, loss, and the transformative power of art. The movie follows the journey of the painting through various time periods, starting with the present day.

In the present day, the painting is in the possession of a wealthy family in New York. Patricia (Ellen Burstyn) is the matriarch of the family, and she has just learned that the painting is a fake. Her granddaughter, Maggie (Melissa Gilbert), is an art teacher who is struggling to make ends meet. When Patricia offers to pay Maggie to create a replica of the painting, Maggie agrees. As Maggie struggles with the painting, she becomes obsessed with the original and begins to investigate its history.

The story then takes us back to 1995, where a young James (Thomas Gibson) is a struggling writer in Amsterdam. He is invited to a party by his friend, the art dealer Geert (Niels Koopman), where he meets the beautiful and mysterious Marijke (Phyllida Law). James falls in love with Marijke, but when he learns that she is hiding a dark secret, he is forced to choose between her and his own safety.

The movie then takes us further back in time, to Amsterdam in 1942. A young Jewish girl named Hannie (Julia Vysotskaya) is forced to flee with her family to escape the Nazis. As they seek shelter with a kind woman named Annika (Judy Parfitt), Hannie discovers a painting hanging in the attic that speaks to her soul. The painting, of course, is the famous hyacinth girl.

The story then takes us to 1800s Holland, where the painting is being created by a struggling artist named Cornelius (Ian Glenn). Cornelius is deeply in love with his model, Catharina (Glenn Close), but their love is forbidden by society. When Catharina is forced to marry a wealthy man, Cornelius loses everything.

The movie is a beautifully rendered period piece that explores the power of art to inspire, transform and bring moments of beauty, love and connection to the lives of those who encounter it. The ensemble cast delivers strong performances that bring to life the various characters and historical periods. Ellen Burstyn and Glenn Close, in particular, are superb in their roles, bringing depth and nuance to their portrayals of strong, determined women.

Brush with Fate is a powerful exploration of the human condition and a homage to the beauty and transformative power of art. It is a film that will resonate with anyone who has ever been touched by a work of art that has transformed their life. The film is uplifting, inspiring, and poignant, and it reminds us that the beauty of life lies not in its duration but in the moments of connection, love, and meaning that we experience along the way.

Brush With Fate is a 2003 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.