Directed by Kim Evans, this documentary with its narrator-- Melvyn Bragg has given us general retrospect of Pollock’s career as a controversial artist in 20^th century for his “drip” painting technique through some interviews with people related to Pollock.

This documentary starts with the scene that he was painting on a piece of glass filmed by Hans Namuth, and the publish of Namuth’s film was a key turning point of Pollock’s career to some extent. Pollock’s art life can be divided into 4 periods: the first period was his early family life, during which his brother Charles was his early enlightenment of art; the second period was learning art under the guidance of Thomas Hart Benton in New York; the third one was his creation period under the sponsorship of Peggy Guggenheim in depression era and Betty Parsons in his creation peak; the last period was his fall down in controversial criticism and his fight with alcoholism end with death.

Pollock’s turbulent life was full of rise and fall. During his “drip period” from 1947 to 1950, the article named “Is he the greatest living painter in the United States?” published on Life magazine made Pollock a lightning rod for controversy and critiques, but also on the summit of fame, which were questioned by many other artists. Some of his friends became jealous of him, turned out to be his competitors. In the face of growing critiques and doubts from others, Pollock began to question his own work. We have to admit that greatest arts and artists not only have to endure the test of time and fame, but critiques and doubts as well. However, artists are vulnerable as arts itself. Pressure from the outside sometimes can be a driving force to creation, but also a destroying force to artist as well. We way say, to Pollock, his paintings are his expression of thoughts towards the world, but under great pressure, painting was not the only way to expression and alcoholic became his another releasing medium of depression.

Why Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and critique? It’s his avant garde experimentation in abstract art by detaching line and points from color. Lack of clear focuses or emphasis, Pollock’s art form doesn’t put any identifiable images into his drawings to highlight any theme. He gave a new definition to the classification of abstract painting, and created a totally new method to express abstract art. In a society depressed by wars, he dared to break the traditional boundaries and guidelines and take the risk to applying creative methods, which is a great breakthrough for the development of modern art. Not only questioned about the traditional art, he also questioned himself and his capacity to let others to make sense of his art. At the peak of his career, he abruptly gave up his drip style. However, his refusal to stay where he was and seeking for the balance between his inner world and outside society consequently brought him to a new world of peace. Finally, he was killed in a car crash after abandoning himself in alcoholic.

“The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through” by Pollock indicates that his aspirations always remained courageously, and time has proved that he is absolutely one of the greatest pioneers of impressionism.