The film follows the great artist Vincent van Gogh and his art dealer brother Theo during their time in Paris. While Vincent dedicates his life to art and work as a full-time painter, his brother just sells the art to make life easier. The difference in their ways of thinking gradually send them into a tragic family story.
Nowhere does Altman sermonise about the artist's greatness; his achievement is allowed to speak for itself. If only more film-makers had such confidence and integrity.