Bukowski: Born Into This (2003)
Directed by John Dullaghan
Director John Dullaghan’s biographical documentary about infamous poet Charles Bukowski, Bukowski: Born Into This, is as much a touching portrait of the author as it is an exposé of his sordid lifestyle. Interspersed between ample vintage footage of Bukowski’s poetry readings are interviews with the poet’s fans including such legendary figures such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Joyce Fante (wife of John), Bono, and Harry Dean Stanton. Filmed in grainy black and white by Bukowski’s friend, Taylor Hackford, due to lack of funding, the old films edited into this movie paint Bukowski’s life of boozing and brawling romantically, securing Bukowski’s legendary status.
1 connection found
View:
1 connections, in both directions
What critics compared Bukowski: Born Into This to
Meticulously researched and often highly entertaining, "Bukowski" consists of -- along with archival footage of and interviews with its alternately cantankerous and surprisingly sweet namesake -- newer conversations with some of the writer's celebrity fans, friends and collaborators (e.g., singers Tom Waits and Bono of U2; actors Sean Penn and Harry Dean Stanton; and filmmakers Taylor Hackford and Barbet Schroeder, who made the Bukowski-inspired "Barfly").
But perhaps his most astonishing discovery is a bit of footage shot by the German director Barbet Schroeder, a Bukowski devotee who, while waiting to raise money for his feature version of the Bukowski novel "Barfly" (with Mickey Rourke -- not a very good film, actually), spent much time at the writer's domicile.