A dazzling, worthy tribute to Vonnegut and a compelling introduction for the uninitiated. The feature documentary - the first of its kind on Vonnegut - is a deep, immersive dive into the author’s upbringing and his creative output. It spans his childhood in Indianapolis, his experience as a Prisoner of War in World War II, his marriage, family, and divorce, his early careers as a publicist for General Electric and a car salesman, and his long years...

The Twain Legacy offers students and teachers an insight into the life and writings of Mark Twain, a significant 19th century American literary icon. ‘The Twain Legacy’ is divided into five chapters intended for class and individual learning and discussion. Knowledgeable scholars explore themes, ideas and narrative style in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. By examining and exploring why his historical and moral concerns were important, the...

1957, Paris. A cheap no-name hotel becomes a haven for a new breed of artists struggling to free themselves from the conformity and censorship of America. Called the Beat hotel, it soon became an epicenter of the beat generation. This revelatory new documentary delves deep into this amazing place and time. Fleeing the obscenity trials surrounding the publication of Howl, Allen Ginsberg, along with Peter Orlovsky and Gregory Corso, happened upon the...

Both heartfelt and entertaining, My Depression uniquely illuminates the symptoms, emotions and side effects of depression using animation, comedy and music.The film helps to make a difficult and sometimes taboo topic more understandable, both for those who may be suffering from depression as well as family and friends of people with the disorder.My Depression takes viewers through an individual's journey from the early symptoms through the darkest...

In his lifetime, Thomas Merton was hailed as a prophet and censured for his outspoken social criticism. For nearly 27 years he was a monk of the austere Trappist order, where he became an eloquent spiritual writer and mystic as well as an anti-war advocate and witness to peace...Merton: A Film Biography provides the first comprehensive look at this remarkable 20th century religious philosopher who wrote, in addition to his immensely popular autobiography...

A biographical documentary which discusses the life and works of author William S. Burroughs.

Wise, brilliant, and funny, Fran Lebowitz hit the New York literary scene in the early '70s when Andy Warhol hired the unknown scribe to write a column for Interview magazine. Today, she's an acclaimed author with legions of fans who adore her acerbic wit. Public Speaking captures the author in conversation at New York's Waverly Inn, in an onstage discussion with longtime friend and celebrated writer Toni Morrison, and on the streets of New York City....

This documentary that goes beyond the famed "Little House" book series to the behind-the-scenes, true life story of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Despite the fame and the popularity of her novels, Wilder's personal story as a writer, wife and mother is a compelling narrative. Her adventures come to life through interviews with historians, passages from the books, archival photography, paintings from famous frontier artists, dramatic reenactments, an original...

Flannery O'Connor's distinctive Southern Gothic style influenced a generation of artists and activists. Winner of the first-ever Library of Congress Lavine/Ken Burns Prize for Film, O'Connor includes conversations with Mary Karr, Hilton Als and others. Through never-before-seen archival footage, examine the life and legacy of an American literary icon.

Based on the landmark memoir by John Howard Griffin, Black Like Me stars James Whitmore as Griffin, who medically altered his pigment and, with the help of a sunlamp, reinvented himself as an itinerant black writer navigating his way through Mississippi and Alabama. Along the way he experienced firsthand both crushing racism and the incredible life force of the Afro-American communities.