Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski is a captivating 2018 documentary film that dives into the compelling story of Polish artist Stanislav Szukalski. The film is a revelatory examination of a virtuoso who was largely forgotten until recent years, and the controversial legacies he left behind that have yet to be unraveled.

Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Ireneusz Dobrowolski, the film unearths the prodigious and paradoxical life of a man who was once hailed as Poland's greatest living artist but spent most of his later years in reclusion. Through stimulating interviews, archival footage, and analysis of the comprehensive body of work Szukalski left behind, the film paints a multifaceted picture of the artist without shying away from his contentious viewpoints and behavior.

Stanislav Szukalski, born in 1893, was an incredibly skilled sculptor and painter, renowned for his grand visual narratives and intricate mythologies. Possessing an eccentric personality and a self-declared messianic mission to rebuild Polish society, his artworks ranged from magnificent sculptures to provocative illustrations that drew heavily from his intriguing interpretation of world history, mythology, and societal design. For the majority of his lifetime, he poured his vision and life experiences into his work with powerful effect.

Interviews with the artist himself and friends, such as comic art collector Glenn Bray and renowned low-brow artist Robert Williams, help to sketch the enigmatic artist's persona. Moreover, they delve into the decades of Szukalski’s life spent in obscurity in the U.S., where he continued to create some of his most significant work, even as it went largely unnoticed. There's a peculiar sense of irony that hangs over the film as it uncovers the life and work of an artist who remained unknown to a wider audience despite his monumental talent and conviction.

The film also boldly confronts Szukalski's nationalist feelings, provisional association with Poland's pre-World War II far-right politics, and his perplexingly controversial yet gripping theory of human evolution that he called ‘Zermatism.' This theory posited that all human culture derived from post-deluge Easter Island and that mankind was locked in an eternal struggle with the Sons of Yeti ("Yetinsyny"), the offspring of Yeti and humans.

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski doesn't simply document the life of a forgotten artist. It seeks to grapple with the dissonance between his monumental talent and the troubling aspects of his ideology. The film is not just a showcase for Szukalski's stunning portfolio; it's also a thoughtful analysis of the artist's place in history and the enduring legacy of his thought-provoking work.

The captivation and engagement in Struggle stem from the film's propensity to constantly surprise its viewers. From the triumphant portrait of his early years, the plunging destruction that came with two world wars, and his relocation to a reclusive life in California, the trajectory of Szukalski’s life continuously takes unexpected turns. The intricacy and magnitude of his artwork are equally a source of awe, while his complex interpretation of history has the power to keep an audience pondering for days.

The film is a remarkable blend of biography and art history, largely thanks to its meticulous direction and use of Szukalski’s own archives. The footage of aging but still formidable Szukalski energetically explaining his work and theories adds a lively dimension to the storytelling. The film's narrative is further enhanced by interviews with friends and fans alike.

In this dynamic documentary, Dobrowolski masterfully maneuvers around the life, art, obsessions, and struggles of Szukalski, resulting in an extensive chronicle that is as bewildering and thought-provoking as the artist himself. Common themes that underpin Szukalski's life story, such as struggle, resilience, conviction, and controversy reverberate throughout the film.

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski is an extraordinary viewing experience that uncovers the life of a remarkable yet largely forgotten artist. For those interested in art or history, or simply the fascinating story of an individual who lived life on solely his terms, this documentary is a must-see. Despite dealing with difficult subjects, it compassionately presents Szukalski as an immensely talented artist, a self-proclaimed prophet, and a fringed eccentric, swooping audiences into a riveting journey through his forgotten world.