In 2000, director Michael Almereyda brought his film crew to San Francisco to document the rehearsal process for the Magic Theater's production of Sam Shepard's play The Late Henry Moss, as directed by the playwright himself. The resulting film, This So-Called Disaster, is partly a study of the magic of theater, as well as a study of the fascinating Shepard, who is nearly universally considered one of the most influential American dramatists of the past century. Shepard and Almereyda's first
collaboration came via the former's adaptation of Hamlet, in which Shepard played the part of the Ghost of Hamlet's father. Shepard, in turn, invited Almereyda to film the rehearsal process for his latest play, The Late Henry Moss, a 16-year labor of love for Shepard that relates a fictional recounting of the playwright's own relationship with his late father. Following the cast -- which includes such luminaries as Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Cheech Marin, and Woody Harrelson -- and the crew until the production's opening night, Almereyda observes the minutiae involved in leading up to the first curtain, as well as some private moments with Shepard as he recounts some of his personal history as related to The Late Henry Moss. This So-Called Disaster was included in the programs for the 2003 Rotterdam International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
In its vision of the push-and-pull of rehearsal and the revelation of how a play comes to breathing, snorting life onstage, Almereyda's video brings us close to the act of creation.
In the end, what takes shape is not just a significant unraveling of Shepard's taciturn mystique, but a potent sense of the pain and rigor of revealing oneself through art.
Ultimately, you leave This So-Called Disaster with renewed respect for Shepard, who comes off as a kind of quiet hero: a man of words, confronting his past with little fuss, and from it creating a legacy.
As a portrait of a collaborative artist at work, the film is an invaluable document, not to be missed by anyone with more than a passing interest in theater.
"This So-Called Disaster" is a documentary directed by Michael Almereyda about the 2000 San Francisco production of Sam Shepard's play,"The Late Henry Moss", which was inspired by his father's life. Shepard directed Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Woody Harrelson, James Gannon, Cheech Marin and Sheila Tousey(what a cast!) in
the play. The documentary shows the rehearsal process and sheds a good deal of light on how the actors created their performances for the stage. We also get to see how a play is directed. There are thoughts here on what it means to be a father and what it means to be a son, too.
August 9, 2005
Walter M.
Super Reviewer
Following the play rehearsals is only mildly entertaining. It's the reminiscent interviews with Shepard and Nolte that make it. And yes, Sean Penn really is a jerk.
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