10 Drama Films About Illustrators You Must Watch

Description: While Frida Kahlo is known primarily for her paintings, the film also touches on her lesser-known work as an illustrator. It delves into her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera and her battle with physical and emotional pain.

Fact: Salma Hayek received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of Frida Kahlo. The film was co-produced by Hayek herself.

Description: This film intertwines the lives of three women across different time periods, with one of them, Virginia Woolf, being an author whose works often included visual descriptions akin to illustrations of her inner world.

Fact: Nicole Kidman won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf.

Description: Walter Mitty, a negative assets manager at Life magazine, embarks on an adventure to find a missing photograph, showcasing his inner world of imagination and his role in preserving visual stories.

Fact: The film features real-life photographer Sean O'Connell, whose work inspired the character of Sean O'Connell in the movie.

Description: This film, based on the memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby, showcases his life after a massive stroke left him with locked-in syndrome. His only means of communication was through blinking, which he used to dictate his book, a form of visual storytelling.

Fact: The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Director for Julian Schnabel.

Description: This adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's novel features Kitty Fane, whose husband takes her to a cholera-infected village in China, where she finds solace in painting and illustrating the local people and landscapes.

Fact: The film was shot on location in China, providing an authentic backdrop to the story.

Description: This film tells the story of Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery, who was also a talented artist and illustrator. The movie captures her journey of self-discovery and the impact on her marriage to fellow artist Gerda Wegener.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Lili Elbe. The film was adapted from the novel by David Ebershoff, which itself was inspired by real events.

Description: Based on the true story of Margaret Keane, an artist known for her paintings of subjects with big eyes, this film explores her struggle for recognition in a time when her husband took credit for her work. It's a tale of artistic integrity and personal courage.

Fact: Amy Adams was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as Margaret Keane. The real Margaret Keane made a cameo appearance in the film.

Description: Although not directly about an illustrator, the protagonist is a ghostwriter, a form of literary illustration. The film explores themes of identity, secrecy, and the art of crafting someone else's story.

Fact: The film was adapted from the novel "The Ghost" by Robert Harris. It was one of the last films directed by Roman Polanski before his legal troubles.

Description: While primarily a silent film about the transition from silent films to talkies, it also touches on the life of an artist who must adapt his craft to survive in a changing world, much like illustrators adapting to new mediums.

Fact: "The Artist" won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, making it one of the most awarded silent films in history.

Description: Although focused on physicist Stephen Hawking, the film includes his wife Jane's journey as she writes a book about their life together, illustrating their story through her words.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking.