Watch Packed in a Trunk: Edith Wilkinson

Packed in a Trunk is a poignant and touching documentary film that explores the life and artwork of Edith Lake Wilkinson, an artist who was forgotten and ultimately institutionalized for much of her life. Directed by Jane Anderson, the film is a labor of love that blends personal testimony, historical research, and modern-day art appreciation to create a powerful story of creative passion, mental illness, and the nature of artistic expression.

The film begins with the discovery of a mysterious trunk that has been locked away in a family attic for decades. Inside the trunk, Anderson discovers a treasure trove of artwork, personal letters, and artifacts that tell the story of Wilkinson's life - a life that was filled with artistic brilliance and personal tragedy. From this starting point, Anderson embarks on a journey to uncover the details of Wilkinson's life, her artistic vision, and the forces that led to her eventual institutionalization.

The heart of the film is a series of interviews with Wilkinson's surviving family members, including her great-niece Tess Ayers and her great-nephew James R. Bakker. These interviews reveal a family resistant to Wilkinson's creative endeavors, her homosexuality, and her struggles with mental illness. For much of her life, Wilkinson's artwork and personal letters were forcibly removed from her possession and kept hidden from the public eye. Packed in a Trunk seeks to shine a light on this story of creative repression and aims to give Wilkinson the recognition and respect she deserves.

Throughout the film, we see examples of Wilkinson's beautiful art - from delicate watercolors and pencil sketches to striking oil paintings. Her artwork is full of life, color, and a sense of whimsy that belies a deeper complexity. We are shown glimpses of the natural world that she was so passionate about, intermingled with images of women, both alone and in groups. These women are often depicted in ways that suggest a fluid sense of identity and sexual desire, and her work is clearly informed by her own struggles with her sexuality.

The film also delves into Wilkinson's experience being institutionalized due to her homosexuality and her struggles with mental illness. We see images of the hospital where she spent much of her adult life, along with archival footage of the practices and attitudes towards mental illness that prevailed during this time. We're told about Wilkinson's tragic death, which occurred just a few years after her release from the hospital, and which many believe was related to the lasting effects of her institutionalization.

Despite the sadness that permeates much of the film, there are also moments of joy and hope. We see Victoria Weston, an art historian and collector who is passionate about Wilkinson's work, working to ensure that Wilkinson's legacy is preserved and celebrated. We see Ayers and Bakker coming together to rediscover the artwork of their great-aunt, and finding a sense of closure and catharsis in the process.

The film is shot with a loving and respectful eye, capturing the beauty of Wilkinson's artwork and the quiet grace of the landscapes that she was so fascinated with. The music is also a highlight, with a score that matches the emotional intensity of Wilkinson's story and enhances the film's already heartfelt tone.

In conclusion, Packed in a Trunk is a remarkable testament to the power of artistic expression, and a moving tribute to a forgotten artist whose work deserves to be celebrated. Anderson has created a sensitive and thoughtful piece of documentary filmmaking, weaving a complex tapestry of family history, social norms, artistic movements, and the human psyche. This is a film that will stay with viewers long after the final frame has faded to black.

Packed in a Trunk: Edith Wilkinson is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.