Bukowski Documentary Tonight

By Margaret Lyons in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 11, 2004 3:24PM

Our pal Michelle over at the Poetry Center gave us a heads-up on the Bukowski: Born Into This screening tonight. The Poetry Center is only the 16th venue ever to show the movie, so get your poem-ass in gear for this rare opportunity.

Director John Dullagan collected over 30 hours of footage from more than 75 interviews with around 150 people. He describes the film as "aimed at both Bukowski neophytes, as well as hard-core fans," a massive attempt at authenticity that strives to examine Bukowski and his work beyond his self-created myth. "Throughout all the pain [Bukowski] endured in his life—a physically abusive father, alcoholism, disfiguring acne, artistic failure, a string of unfaithful, abusive relationships—he prevailed," according to Dullagan, and the movie is in large part a testament to that perseverance.

Michelle tells us that most Bukowski fans love "his honest depiction of dailiness, and his resolve to illuminate the seedy, the dirty and the foulmouthed lowlifes," which is right up our alley. The screening is at 6:30 p.m. in the Ballroom of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago at 112 South Michigan. It's $5, and word on the street is that there'll be snack.