LAKOTA NATION VS UNITED STATES (2023, doc)

July 10, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Let’s face it. The vast majority of U.S. educated folks have “learned” most of their Native American history from short segments in high school classes and from the portrayals in movies and TV shows. It seems fair to admit that these have been mostly one-sided tales. Well, here comes co-directors Laura Tomaselli and Jesse Short Bull to provide a detailed history from the Native American perspective, and I feel confident that many of you will find it as disturbing as I did.

This history dates back to the arrival of Europeans, but the focus here is on the mid-1800’s forward. We learn there have been more than 400 Treaties between the United States government and Native American tribes, with each successive ‘agreement’ whittling away a bit more of the land set aside for those who were already here. The film begins with some general history lessons, including the Dakota 38, where, in 1862, the U.S. government hanged 38 members of the Dakota tribe in the largest mass execution in U.S. history. The film’s focus is then further narrowed to the Lakota tribe and the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Native American poet Layli Long Soldier provides a voice and a bit of structure throughout, and her recurring “X marks the spot” carries significant weight regarding the treaties, the lack of understanding by tribal leaders, and the land itself. Parts one and two are labeled ‘Extermination’ and ‘Assimilation’, respectively, and we learn about the 150+ boarding schools that were more like boot camps designed to indoctrinate the natives … including the slogan, “Kill the Indian, save the man.”

The history is presented in mostly chronological order, and we see how the Lakotas continue the battle over their land – demanding reparations, the protection of clean waters, and the prevention of oil pipelines. This is the mission of the “Landback” movement, as their leaders share their (justified) anger and history with us. In recent years, the movement received a jolt when Donald Trump staged a July 4th celebration at Mount Rushmore, a particularly sacred land within the Black Hills of South Dakota. This lack of respect inspired many protests.

This is an exceedingly compelling documentary. It teaches us history in a manner that stimulates emotions on a subject from a perspective most of us have never considered … yet it is so crucial to the Lakota. Their ongoing struggle to reclaim their land is underscored by the fact that the Lakota continue to refuse the substantial monetary settlements offered by the government, choosing instead to hold fast to their demands of having the land returned to them.

Opens on July 14, 2023

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Posted by David Ferguson

HAVE YOU GOT IT YET? THE STORY OF SYD BARRETT AND PINK FLOYD (2023, doc)

July 10, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. “Wish you were here” is one of the songs Pink Floyd wrote in tribute to the band’s enigmatic founder, Syd Barrett. These days, fifty-five years after he left the band and seventeen years after his death, Barrett remains a mysterious cult figure in rock lore, enveloped by rumors and conjecture. Co-directors Roddy Bogawa and Storm Thorgerson (graphic designer of such classic album covers as Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”) attempt to present the facts by talking to a stream of folks who were there.

It might seem odd for a Syd Barrett documentary to be timed to coincide with the 50-year anniversary of Pink Floyd’s best-selling album, “The Dark Side of the Moon”, since Barrett didn’t perform on the album and had been gone from the band for five years. However, since the inspiration for the album’s concept and songs were derived from the band’s feelings towards Barrett, the timing does make sense. Bassist Roger Waters admits that Pink Floyd would not have existed without Barrett, and that is a crucial element to keep in mind despite the band having so much commercial success in the post-Barrett era.

“Creative genius” is an overused label, but Syd Barrett earned it, despite his short musical career. Enigma and mystery also apply to his story since he was basically kicked out of his own band and later retreated from public life … along the way displaying unconventional behavior. Did the LSD habit have detrimental effects? Did he suffer from an undiagnosed mental illness? Was he on the spectrum? Did he prefer a simpler, quieter life far from the rock star lifestyle? The directors offer many folks the chance to chime in with their memories and theories. Those interviewed include former band members, Barrett’s sister, his girlfriends, numerous childhood friends, influenced musicians, teachers, and psychologists.

Pink Floyd members Roger Waters, Nick Mason, and David Gilmour are respectful in their comments and give credit to Barrett for his influence. Also documented is the infamous day a barely recognizable Barrett dropped into Apple Studios while the band was recording “Wish You Were Here”. The photographs are shown and provide the startling contrast between that Barrett and the one we had seen a few years prior. The Syd Barrett described as “fun”, “artistic”, and “intelligent” was not the one sitting in the studio that day.

Rock legend Pete Townshend describing the psychedelic heavy metal sound of Barrett’s band is a highlight of the film, as is the somewhat sad story of the band deciding not to pick up an unpredictable Barrett before a gig … with the punchline, “why bother?” Another interesting bit of trivia is learning that Barrett named the band via a blues mashup of Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. The reverence displayed by each interviewee solidifies his lasting impact, and the utter confusion surrounding exactly what happened with him. We always hear ‘painters must paint’, and ‘writers must write’, and we wonder if Syd Barrett is the exception. Is his a sad story, or one of a man who found the life he preferred? We now know more, though we will never know that.

Available July 12, 2023

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Posted by David Ferguson

ROCK HUDSON: ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWED (2023, doc)

June 28, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Actors earn a living thanks to their ability to perform in front of the camera (or a live audience) as someone else … making the audience believe they are a particular character of interest. But what happens when an actor must continue acting once the cameras stop rolling? Such was the life of Roy Fitzgerald, a man known worldwide as Rock Hudson. Documentarian Stephen Kijak chronicles the complications faced by Rock Hudson – maintaining the All-American public persona, while hiding a personal life that likely would have ended his career had his secret life as a gay man been publicized.

Perhaps the biggest surprise here is that the secret was kept for decades, even though so many in the industry were well aware. The answer to ‘why’ this wasn’t a big deal at a time it certainly would have been a big deal is likely related to just how likeable and nice Rock Hudson was. Not only did he have incredible appeal to both men and women, he was also an extraordinarily nice man … a matinee idol with the real life personality of Tom Hanks. Of course, here we are almost 40 years later, and Rock Hudson’s legacy is often boiled down to the fact that he was the first true celebrity to go public with his AIDS diagnosis, ultimately passing away from the disease in 1985 at age 59.

As is often the case, there is much more to the man than the headlines. After serving in the Navy during WWII, it was 1946 when he headed to Hollywood. There he met Ken Lodge who helped him get his start, and it was industry big-wig Henry Wilson who thought ‘Roy Fitzgerald’ was a pleasant enough name, but “Rock Hudson” was much better. And it was Wilson who molded Hudson into the ‘ladies man’ Adonis we grew accustomed to seeing on screen. Wilson even taught him how to come across as “hetero”, and stressed the importance of not being photographed with his ‘friends’ while in public. We even hear candid interviews from George Nader and Mark Miller who were very close friends of Hudson’s, and we understand how “The Castle” became the hangout to avoid public scrutiny.

Director Kijack is very clever in his use of archival movie clips that now can be interpreted much differently than when Hudson’s movies first played. When clumped together like this, we wonder how the clues were missed, and just how intentional some of the dialogue and situations were. We hear from the doctor who diagnosed Hudson with AIDS, and the importance of Reagan politics in the era is emphasized. One of the most heart-wrenching sequences revolves around the “Dynasty” episode where Hudson, knowing he was infected with AIDS, had to kiss series star Linda Evans. We also see how his long-time friends Doris Day and Elizabeth Taylor rallied around him when he went public.

Classic film lovers know Rock Hudson received his only Oscar nomination for GIANT (1957), and it should be noted that his thirty year career spanned just about every genre: the iconic Rom-Coms with Doris Day (PILLOW TALK, 1959); dramas (ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS, 1955); war (A GATHERING OF EAGLES, 1963); westerns (BEND OF THE RIVER, 1952); science-fiction (“The Mirror Crack’d”); crime-mysteries (PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW, 1971); and thrillers (ICE STATION ZEBRA, 1968). He also starred alongside Susan Saint James and Nancy Walker in one of my favorite TV series from the 1970’s, “McMillan and Wife.” Yet, despite so many terrific performances, shows, and films, Rock Hudson’s most challenging and impressive role was certainly that of Rock Hudson.

Premiering on HBO and MAX on June 28, 2023

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Posted by David Ferguson

BUFFALO SOLDIERS: FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS (2023, doc)

June 12, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. PBS excels at documentaries that bring to light a subject or topic which has been overshadowed or overlooked. In conjunction with WORLD channel and filmmakers Dru Holley, Jerome Young, and Jerry Bell Jr, this latest focuses on the previously uncelebrated role of African American soldiers in numerous wars dating back more than 150 years.

For those only familiar with the term “Buffalo Soldiers” thanks to the 1983 Bob Marley song, the film explains how legend tells us that the Native Americans gave the name to African American soldiers on the frontier, and it evolved into a nickname for all African American soldiers. Although the precise reason why the name was applied is still debated, the term has survived and can still be used today.

Timed to release on Juneteenth, the one-hour film depicts the crucial role of African American soldiers in war, and how their willingness to fight for the country was associated with their desired right to citizenship … and money. Perhaps the most revelatory moment occurs when we are informed that the infamous storming of San Juan Hill by Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War actually occurred AFTER the Buffalo Soldiers had cleared the way for them. The famous photograph is widened to provide evidence of these Buffalo soldiers.

Utilizing the fascinating stories of Moses Williams, William Cathay, and Charles Young delivers the personal aspect necessary to have the story resonate with skeptics. Williams spent 37 years in the military was the first African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor, and the stories of Cathay (a female pretending to be a man in order to enlist) and Young (stationed in Liberia where blacks ruled over indigenous blacks) are equally enthralling.

Much of the focus here is on the Indian War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War, and the film succeeds in proving its point: Black history is American history. This is a piece of history that many of us have not been previously exposed, and it rights that wrong.

Premieres June 12 on PBS and June 19 on WORLD Channel’s Local, USA series

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Posted by David Ferguson

IT AIN’T OVER (2023, doc)

May 25, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. In a perfect world we would judge each other by character, personality, integrity, and accomplishments. Unfortunately, too many still judge the book by its cover, and therein lies the only explanation for why Yogi Berra was not on the field at the 2015 All-Star game with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax, and Johnny Bench as one of the greatest living players. Berra, though he never cut the imposing athletic figure as those players, certainly fulfilled the four attributes listed above … including his accomplishments in the very game that was offering tribute to the greats of the game. Director Sean Mullin expertly proceeds to prove that Lorenzo Pietro “Yogi” Berra was not just one of the best baseball players of all-time, he was also a war hero, beloved father, grandfather, husband, public figure, and above all, a world-class person.

What Mr. Mullin does to elevate this documentary is not just focus on Yogi’s fabulous career as a player, but also on the rest of his life. This allows us to understand what a special man he was. Yogi’s granddaughter Lindsay frequently pops up for commentary, and she makes it abundantly clear that while Yogi learned to accept being baseball’s most overlooked superstar, she certainly has not. After all, Berra is the all-time leader in World Series championships as a player with 10, and has 13 rings total, including his time coaching. He was an 18 time All-Star and was voted onto the All-Century team. Remarkably, Yogi caught both ends of 117 doubleheaders in his career, and of course, caught Don Larsen’s World Series Perfect Game. As a New York Yankees player and coach, his presence in pinstripes linked the careers of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, and Don Mattingly.

Those are some of the pieces of a life that are indelibly linked to baseball history, and in this documentary, we learn even more. He grew up on the same St Louis street as (another future major league catcher) Joe Garagiola, and the Branch Rickey story involving the two is fascinating. After signing with the Yankees for $500, Berra enlisted in the Navy, and found himself in the middle of the Normandy landings. Lindsay recounts the story of why Berra never received his Purple Heart, and the process she went through to ensure that he received a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was married to Carmen for 65 years, and they raised three sons, Dale (a Major Leaguer), Tim, and Larry. The story of how Carmen named Dale is one of the highlights of the film.

Lest you buy into the image of Yogi as the cartoon character (Yogi Bear) in Yellowstone, or the lovable post-career pitchman for Amtrak, Aflac, YooHoo, and Miller Lite, pay particular attention to the segment on Jackie Robinson’s steal of home in the World Series. This will clue you in on what an intense competitor Yogi was – helping to explain his incredible track record of winning. Of course, none of this is meant to minimize Yogi’s creative use of the English language. He became iconic for his malapropisms … often referred to as “Yogiisms”. This includes the famous one from which this film’s title was derived, “It ain’t over till it’s over” … right up there with “I really didn’t say everything I said.”

Berra’s rift with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is analyzed, leaving us respecting Yogi’s years-long stance over being disrespected. Their eventual make-up led to an incredible “Yogi Berra Day” at Yankee Stadium, where the game remarkably lived up to the pre-game moment when Don Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi. Director Mullin capitalizes on a long stream of former teammates, opponents, players, writers, and family members to provide insight into Yogi Berra. There is little doubt even more would have loved to contribute, as much in the way Yogi gives credit to Hall of Famer Bill Dickey for tutoring him on catching, so many are anxious to offer stories on how Yogi Berra influenced them. Let’s end this with more of Yogi’s wisdom. “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.” And when it comes to this excellent and entertaining documentary from Sean Mullin, keep in mind that “You can observe a lot by watching.”

Opens in theaters on May 26, 2023

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Posted by David Ferguson

BEING MARY TYLER MOORE (2023, doc)

May 25, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. It’s borderline unfathomable that someone who has worked for almost 20 years as a cinematographer and a decade as a TV director could be “unfamiliar” with the work and career of one of the industry giants, yet that’s the claim of director James Adolphus (“Soul of a Nation” mini-series) when it comes to Mary Tyler Moore. His film does play a bit as if he’s opening a Christmas present that everyone else in the room knows what’s under the wrapping, and it’s because of this, the film works as not just a retrospective of her career, but also a tribute to a woman who influenced so many.

“The Dick Van Dyke Show” ran for 158 episodes between 1961 and 1966, and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” ran for 168 episodes between 1970 and 1977. These were two immensely popular shows during their respective eras, and because of her characters in each, Mary Tyler Moore spent time as both America’s favorite wife and America’s favorite single woman. These characters were cutting edge (for different reasons) for their time. Director Adolphus also provides insight into her childhood and early career. Mary was first married in 1954, not long after high school graduation. She found work as ‘Happy Hotpoint’, the dancer on Hotpoint advertisements, and clips of the ads are included here. Even after she became a world-famous actor, she remained a dancer at heart.

Betty Friedan and “The Feminine Mystique” are referenced a few times, and the point is made, even if it’s in a subtle manner, that Mary’s impact on feminism has long been overlooked. We hear from such industry folks as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Asner, James L Brooks, and Treva Silverman, as well as friends and family, but it’s really Mary herself that we see on screen for the vast majority of the two-hour run time. In particular, a loose structure is formed from clips of her appearances on “The David Susskind Show” and an interview with Rona Barrett. These segments allow for some rare personal insight into Mary Tyler Moore as a person.

So many rare pictures, clips, and home movies are included that we easily follow a career that spanned 50 years … and three marriages. The first marriage produced her only child. The second marriage, to Grant Tinker, resulted in MTM Productions and her greatest professional success. However, it was the third marriage to Dr. Robert Levine, where she found true and long-lasting love, as well as the motivation to find herself with a stint at the Betty Ford Clinic for rehab in 1984. We learn of her Broadway redemption with “Whose Life is it, anyway?”, after her setback on stage many years earlier with a musical “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Probably the most surprising segment here revolves around the original pilot for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” … it has great video and behind-the- scenes scoop.

Given her comedic chops displayed in her two most famous sitcoms, many of us were caught off guard with her Oscar nominated performance in Robert Redford’s ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980). What we discover here is that Mary’s personal life was nearly as rosy as Laura Petrie’s or Mary Richards’, and many real-life personal losses allowed her to reveal a bit more of her true self on screen. Most of us know that Mary was the female lead in Elvis Presley’s final feature film, CHANGE OF HABIT (1969), but we might not have known that Carl Reiner was her comedy hero, or that her own struggles with diabetes (over decades) led her to become International Chairperson of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). For one who seemed to constantly define the contemporary woman, Mary Tyler Moore’s story is impressive, and her personal archives bring more meaning to “Love is All Around.”

Beginning May 26, 2023, the documentary will air on HBO and stream on MAX

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Posted by David Ferguson

STILL: A MICHAEL J FOX MOVIE (2023, doc)

May 12, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. With his Oscar winning AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (2006), and follow-ups including WAITING FOR SUPERMAN (2010) and HE NAMED ME MALALA (2015), Davis Guggenheim has proven to be one of the most important and effective documentarians working today. With his latest, he adds a creative touch that blends well with the emotional and personal aspects of this Michael J Fox biography.

Most everyone recognizes Michael J Fox as the popular actor from the BACK TO THE FUTURE franchise and/or his enormously successful TV series, “Family Ties” and “Spin City”. Along the way, there were numerous other films and appearances, and at one point in the 1980’s, he was likely the most recognized actor on the planet thanks to his box office winning movies, highly-rated TV series, countless magazine covers, and regular Talk Show appearances. On top of all that, in 1988, he married the love of his life, actress Tracy Pollan. He truly had it all.

A trembling pinkie signaled a life-changing event for Fox. At age 29, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease … a disease that typically strikes elderly folks, not otherwise healthy young adults in their physical prime years. For years, he was able to hide his symptoms by timing his medication and disguising his left-hand trembles – either by holding an item or keeping the hand stuffed in his pocket.

The creative parts of Guggenheim’s film are that he eschews traditional talking heads – and rest assured, there would be a stream of celebrities willing to talk about Fox – and the use of cool editing by cutting in clips of Fox’s acting roles into the stories as Fox tells them. That’s right … as Michael J Fox tells his own story. He is his own talking head in this film, and it works brilliantly to allow him to show us his sense of humor remains intact, and that he has learned to deal with the obstacles this disease throws at him. We even see his struggle to get toothpaste on his toothbrush. Yet none of this is designed to elicit sympathy for Fox. Oh no, he will have none of that.

We learn his patented perpetual movement dates back to childhood, and are reminded that he was often seen sprinting or moving quickly in his roles … movements he can no longer execute. In fact, his falls are often brutal, sometimes resulting in broken bones and a broken face (pins in his hand and eye socket). Michael J Fox is a 5-time Emmy winner who has been married to Tracy for 35 years. They share four kids and the obstacles created by Parkinson’s. Guggenheim includes a wonderful story regarding a lunch box and Brandon Tartikoff, the wunderkind President of NBC who initially was opposed to Fox being cast in “Family Ties”. The presentation of Fox’s workaholic nature is on full display during the sequence on his simultaneously filming “Family Ties” and BACK TO THE FUTURE.

Michael J Fox telling us his own story makes this so personal. He admits to “waiting for the bus” … a phrase he copped to describe waiting for the dopamine meds to kick in. He is one of the very few to live more than half their life with Parkinson’s Disease, and his sharing the obstacles for all to see is commendable, even if he forbids us from pity.

Opens May 12, 2023

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Posted by David Ferguson

32 SOUNDS (2023, doc)

April 27, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. We tend to believe that we are either participating in an activity (cooking a meal, riding a bike, playing a sport, etc), or sitting idly as a spectator (watching TV, listening to the radio, attending a kid’s play, etc). However, documentarian Sam Green is here to prove that there is another option, participatory listening. This is the action of listening “with”, rather than listening “to” … being fully present and attuned as you take in and process the vibrations of life occurring all around you. This could be a babbling stream, the rustling of leaves, or even the grinding of icemaker gears in your ten-year-old refrigerator. OK, Mr. Green doesn’t mention that last one, but you get the point.

Whether Director Green, whose 2003 documentary THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND was nominated for an Oscar, would agree with this being described as ‘experimental’ filmmaking, it’s clearly a different approach. At SXSW, he had an experiential set-up for viewers, and he recommends headphones for full effect. At a minimum, the film deserves an elite sound system, and some audience participation (closing of eyes, etc).

Most movie lovers appreciate when sound effects are used effectively and creatively, but Green is not just interested in the use of sound in cinema, but also in everyday settings. We get a clip of a ‘bad educational film’ used in schools to explain the physiology of the inner ear, and he even uses a whoopee cushion to make a point about ‘funny’ sounds and the expectations we have for specific sounds. We see Foley artist Joanna Fang creating sounds, and how her ‘cheat’ sounds are often more readily accepted than the real thing due to those expectations.

Annea Lockwood, the subject of Green’s 2021 documentary short, has spent a lifetime making and analyzing different sounds. She’s now 81 years old and studies the difference of underwater vs surface level sounds at a river, and the value of listening ‘with’, rather than listening ‘to’. She also shares her favorite quote from Roman Poet Ovid, “Everything changes, and nothing is lost”. This quote ties into the theory of Charles Babbage who suggested that all sounds throughout history are still floating in the air, and that we might be able to recapture those – meaning nothing is lost.

Green isn’t fully committed to numbering the 32 sounds for us, although it seems like the number is easily exceeded during the runtime. There is a fascinating story about how the last surviving bird of its species repeatedly sent out a mating call, one which could no longer be answered. Most of us love the sound of waves crashing, but how about the striking of a match, or the whoosh of a golf ball being struck? And of course, Green touches on music and how it can bring back the memory of a certain moment. One premise is that it can be easier to hear if you can’t see, so there are a few segments where we are asked to close our eyes. Mostly this helps us realize that not only should we stop and smell the roses, we should also stop and listen to them … or even the ‘room tone.’

A nationwide rollout of the film begins April 28, 2023 at Film Forum in NYC.

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LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING (2023, doc)

April 21, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Good golly! Documentarian Lisa Cortes packs a lot into this profile of Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard. Director Cortes sticks with a familiar structure for the biopic; however, two things stood out to me about this documentary: it features remarkably little music for a musical doc, and it works well for both those who are very familiar with the legendary performer and those needing an introduction.

In cradle-to-grave fashion, we learn about Richard’s mother and father, and that he was one of 12 children in the family from Macon, Georgia. Plenty of photographs and clips from the era are included, and things really kick in when the history of “Tutti Frutti” is discussed. Shifting a bit from its original meaning, Little Richard served up a searing version that shocked many. But what shocked him is that much tamer versions from Elvis and especially Pat Boone outsold his. I particularly enjoyed learning that Little Richard picked up his famous scream from gospel singer Marion Williams.

Ms. Cortes utilizes many interviews by Little Richard himself to cover his complex life filled with contradictions and new paths. His father kicked him out of the house for being gay, setting him up for a lifetime of searching for his true identity. Richard’s track included pushing the early boundaries of rock and roll, pushing further boundaries in the world of queerness, exploring many facets of religion and attempting to balance his belief in the bible with his love of orgies, and his lifelong search for a true identity.

It was the 1956 film, THE GIRL CAN’T HELP IT, that provided most people’s first glance of Little Richard performing. The same can be said for Fats Domino, Eddie Cochran, and Gene Vincent, among others, but none had the impact or the look and music of Little Richard. His many hits after “Tutti Frutti” included “Long Tall Sally”, “Lucille”, and of course, “Good Golly, Miss Molly”. It’s fascinating to hear Mick Jagger, John Waters, Tom Jones, and others provide the acknowledgment of Little Richard’s influence, however, even more interesting is listening to Little Richard himself walk us through his various stages of being. This is a man who, lacking an ounce of humility, proclaims, “I’m the one who started it all”, referencing Rock and Roll. He’s also the man who renounced his gay identity in order to embrace religion and begin preaching.

Little Richard was a master showman with a daring and hyper-energetic stage presence. None other than The Rolling Stones once opened for him on tour. His tongue-in-cheek catchphrase became “Shut up”, and he was heavily into drugs during the 1970’s. Little Richard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986, and he has taken credit for the success of most every rock star over the last 70 years … and the fabulous closing montage makes it difficult to argue. Director Cortes does justice to the complex life of a complicated and talented man, and ‘Good Golly’, that was no easy task.

Opening in theaters and on Digital beginning April 21, 2023

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Posted by David Ferguson

JUDY BLUME FOREVER (2023, doc)

April 21, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. It’s not unusual for readers to feel a connection to their favorite author, but very few can match the bond shared by writer Judy Blume and her followers. Co-directors Davino Pardo and Leah Wolchok set out to profile the writer whose staggering sales figures (more than 80 million books sold) pale in comparison to the impact she had on so many young girls.

A film adaption (directed by Kelly Fremon Craig) of Ms. Blume’s most well-known book, “Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret”, is set for a release that corresponds to this documentary, so it’s likely her work is about to experience a revival of sorts. You might wonder how a 1970 book for adolescent girls could still have relevance today, and the answer is that the author is one of the few who addressed what mattered (and matters) to this group: masturbation, menstruation, relationships, body development. Blume’s work addressed these topics in such a way that girls could not only easily relate, but they felt comfort in knowing that they weren’t facing these changes alone. Blume became a best-selling author and a trusted advisor.

The filmmakers opt to include interviews with celebrities such as Molly Ringwald, Lena Dunham, and Samantha Bee, yet it’s the words from “normal” girls and women who recount the impact of the books that strikes an emotional chord. Watching Judy go through the mounds of letters she received from readers brings emphasis to what matters here. Yale University houses Blume’s archies, letters, and papers, and we sense the sentimentality as she re-reads some of these. Regular correspondence with writers Mary H.K. Choi and Lorrie Kim is remarkable, but it’s the consistent letters back and forth with Karen Chilstrom over so many years that pack an emotional wallop. Segments with Judy’s own children, daughter Randy and son Larry, are also included.

We learn Judy was a traditional 1950’s housewife who pursued a career of her own, a not-so-traditional move of the times. She persevered despite many closed doors, and went on to have incredible success doing exactly what she wanted in a style that bucked the trends. That she sold so many books is remarkable when you consider that the target audience for many of her books were too young to even buy books. We see numerous clips of Blume on TV Talk Shows telling her story … her confrontation with ultra-conservative James Buchannan is particularly entertaining. Although the film goes mostly in chronological order, only the most ardent fans will know what year a book being discussed was released. Now in her 80’s, Blume and her husband run a bookstore in Key West with a posted sign that reads … “We sell banned books.” What a fitting exclamation point to a remarkable woman and her career.

Streaming on Prime Video beginning April 21, 2023

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