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Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle

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"One of America's Most Eccentric and Visionary Artists"

Painter, fisherman, visionary, eccentric - Forrest Bess lived his life in obscurity, at an isolated bait camp off the East Coast of Texas. From 1949 through 1967, Bess showed at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York City along with artists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. But Bess' art was only part of a grander theory based on alchemy, Jungian philosophy, and aboriginal rituals, which proposed that hermaphrodism was the key to immortality. Narrated by actors Willem Dafoe and Ruth Maleczech, the documentary combines the beauty of Bess' art with the drama and tragedy of his personal life. Interviews with people who knew Bess, including art historian Meyer Schapiro (his last interview) and Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman bring life to this forgotten artist. Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddleis a fascinating look at one of America's most unusual artists.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle (1999) about?

Painter, fisherman, visionary, eccentric - Forrest Bess lived his life in obscurity, at an isolated bait camp off the East Coast of Texas. From 1949 through 1967, Bess showed at the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York City along with artists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. But Bess' art was only part of a grander theory based on alchemy, Jungian philosophy, and aboriginal rituals, which…

Who stars in Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle?

Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle stars Willem Dafoe (Narrator). The film was directed by Ari Marcopoulos.

How long is Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle?

Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle has a runtime of 48 min and premiered in 1999.

Where can I watch Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle?

Streaming availability for Forrest Bess: Key to the Riddle changes by country and service. TasteRay tracks where it is available across Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Apple TV+ and 50+ other platforms — the current options for your country are shown on this page.