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Summary
Artist William Kurelek (1927-1977) was the son of Ukrainian immigrants who brought their old-world views to their new home in Canada. Although he demonstrated great talent at a young age, William’s ability was ridiculed by his father, who forever questioned the value of such interests. The self-doubt his father instilled in William led to suicidal despair and institutionalization. William spent a year in a British mental hospital and didn’t overcome his spiritual and emotional crisis until he converted to Catholicism in 1957.
Ultimately, Kurelek made a name for himself as a landscape painter and a highly regarded illustrator of children’s books.
In this 1970 documentary, Kurelek looks back on his development as an artist and the anguish he suffered under the disapproving eyes of his tyrannical father. Many of his paintings are featured in the film, and the camera draws sharp focus on the minutiae of detail found in his works. The sometimes disturbing images are made all the more effective by the insights shared by Kurelek and others, not the least of whom are two psychiatrists and a priest. Members of Kurelek’s family are also interviewed, including his wife, mother, and father, who begrudgingly admits pride in his son’s success—though he would still have preferred a more masculine and lucrative occupation for William.
The Maze is a fascinating film about an artist, his creations, his inner demons and the external influences - both good and bad - that shaped his work.
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