This is about the work of Canadian director Mary Harron, known for the cult classic “American Psycho.” The idea for the film about the scandalous artist arose in her mind seven years ago. The lead roles are played by Ben Kingsley and Ezra Miller (portraying a young Salvador Dali).
The story is set in 1974. Salvador Dali is supposed to be preparing for an exhibition in New York, but he keeps getting distracted by parties. His wife, muse, and manager, Gala, does everything in her power to make sure Dali gets back to work, enlisting the help of a young assistant named James. James unwittingly immerses himself in Dali’s insane world and, in the process, learns the fascinating story of the artist’s life.
The original title of the film is “Daliland,” and it’s quite fitting as it fully immerses the audience in Dali’s world. The filmmakers do an excellent job of portraying the inner world of the most contradictory painter of the 20th century. It’s clear that they aimed for maximum authenticity. The film includes numerous episodes that shed light on the history behind Dali’s famous paintings, even though none of these works are featured directly on screen. The most significant strength of the film is Ben Kingsley’s performance, which is one of his finest roles.