A MAJOR new film offering a fresh perspective on The Impressionists through the life and work of the man who introduced them to the world will play at The Regal cinema, Evesham.

Now in its second season, Exhibition On Screen gives unprecedented access to the world's greatest arts exhibitions. As part of the cinema’s commitment to bringing diversity to its screen in Evesham, audiences at The Regal will enjoy exclusive access to the curators as they talk about the paintings included in the exhibition and make crucial decisions about where and how to hang this remarkable collection of art.

Based on the Inventing Impressionism exhibition which recently opened at the National Gallery London, The Impressionists and the Man who Made Them focuses on 19th Century Parisian art collector Paul Durand-Ruel.

It was his continual support, championing, financial backing and refusal to give up that established one of the most loved and recognisable movements in Western art – Impressionism.

The film charts Durand-Ruel’s relationship with artists including Manet, Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Renoir and Pissarro, and his determination to support them in the unforgiving environment of 19th Century Paris, through the Franco-Prussian war.

It was alongside dealing with the blows of his own personal life – losing his wife and caring for their five children.

From the artists’ early struggles to be accepted at the Salon, to the widespread ridicule and derision that followed when their work was exhibited in Paris, to his brave decision to exhibit these revolutionary and radical new artists in America.

The film follows Durand-Ruel’s extraordinary story that finally brought the Impressionists the worldwide respect that they sought and changed the art world forever.

Alongside the opportunity to see some of the Impressionist’s most famous works up close on the big screen, the film offers diary extracts and insights from Durand-Ruel and the artists in their own words with Durand-Ruel voiced by Robert Lindsay.

The films also ventures behind the scenes as the galleries prepare for one of their biggest exhibitions of the year.

It will be screened on Tuesday, May 26 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £12 each for adults and £8 each for concessions and are available from theregal.ac or by calling 01386 421007.