Advertising writer John Dullaghan makes his feature-length directorial debut with the documentary Bukowski: Born Into This. The infamous poet, novelist, and screenwriter Charles Bukowski has made a legacy of writing about hard living in a unique prose style. His work paralleled his lifestyle, leading to the autobiographical novels Women, Hollywood, and Post Office. This documentary investigates his life through archival clips, interviews, and footage of the man himself. He appears at a public
reading in San Francisco's City Lights Bookstore. Conversations with Bukowski's friends, including rock star Bono and actor Sean Penn, reveals some personal stories and experiences. Bukowski: Born Into This was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in the documentary competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
Born Into This, its title taken from one of his poems, is a remarkable movie, because, like Crumb or even American Splendor, it adores the very people most of us might ignore if they passed us on the street.
Bukowski would be better served by a critical examination of his life, one which gets past the sentimental façade of an artist who played the roué to keep from tasting the bitterness (as Stephen Crane once put it) of his own heart.
moving documentary on the mad poet bukowski who never compromised his work. a powerful portrait of a brave yet fragile man who some would call an asshole
November 9, 2007
Stella Dallas
Super Reviewer
A heartfelt, interesting portrait of one of America's greatest writers. The presence of Bono felt completely out of place and even a bit intrusive, but aside from that I enjoyed everything about this film.
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