by Jason Thibault
Well these trailers both seemed to arrive out of left field this week. But they’re welcome additions. Looks like two docs are coming out about two gents who blazed trails through the American cultural landscape. I’m a little more interested in the Burroughs film but I’ll definitely give both of them a look. What do you think?
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
Painting by Christiaan Tonnis
First-time writer / director Yony Lesner investigates a true American radical, W.S. Burroughs with a who’s who of writers, directors and musicians weighing in. Included in the interviews are David Cronenberg, Iggy Pop, Jello Biafra, Patti Smith, John Waters, Peter Weller, Gus Van Sant and Lee Ranaldo.
Peter Weller narrates with soundtrack provided by Patti Smith and Sonic Youth.
The official film synopsis:
The film investigates the life of legendary beat author and American icon, William S. Burroughs. Born the heir of the Burroughs’ adding machine estate, he struggled throughout his life with addiction, control systems and self. He was forced to deal with the tragedy of killing his wife and the repercussions of neglecting his son. His novel, Naked Lunch, was one of the last books to be banned by the U.S. government. Allen Ginsberg and Norman Mailer testified on behalf of the book. The courts eventually overturned their decision in 1966, ruling that the book had important social value. It remains one of the most recognized literary works of the 20th century.
William Burroughs was one of the first to cross the dangerous boundaries of queer and drug culture in the 1950s, and write about his experiences. Eventually he was hailed the godfather of the beat generation and influenced artists for generations to come. However, his friends were left wondering, did William ever find happiness? Th is extremely personal documentary breaks the surface of the troubled and brilliant world of one of the greatest authors of all time.
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel
An intimate look at the outspoken, flamboyant founder of the Playboy empire. With humor and insight, the film captures Hefner’s fierce battles with the government, the religious right and militant feminists. Rare footage and compelling interviews with a remarkable who’s who of 20th Century American pop culture, present a brilliant and entertaining snapshot of the life of an extraordinary man and the controversies that surrounded him.
Fron the Toronto International Film Fest description:
The tales of women, cocktails and the mansion are famous, and will be familiar to most, but what’s revealing here is Hefner’s place in the African American civil rights movement. When some Playboy clubs in the southern United States would not let black patrons in, Hefner used his own money to buy the franchises back from their owners, ensuring that institutions bearing the Playboy name would be racially integrated. The main criticism of the Playboy brand and accompanying philosophy is that it has been degrading and damaging to women, but Berman also shows Hefner’s support for feminist causes – for example, he sent legal teams to fight for abortion rights cases, which paved the road for groundbreaking Supreme Court decisions such as Roe v. Wade.
What emerges is the profile of a man far more complex than the smut peddler many of his detractors purport him to be. Berman has also dug up some priceless clips from Hefner’s own syndicated television series, in which he would interview celebrities from his home while wearing a smoking jacket. Her film celebrates the hedonist, but also clearly illustrates that there’s far more to this man than just a good time.
Director Brigitte Berman has produced and directed more than one hundred documentaries for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
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