{"id":62989,"date":"2024-10-27T16:50:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-27T20:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/herman\/?p=62989"},"modified":"2024-12-22T12:48:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T17:48:09","slug":"a-second-look-at-algren-touched-by-a-documentary-ode-to-nelson-algren","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/herman\/2024\/10\/a-second-look-at-algren-touched-by-a-documentary-ode-to-nelson-algren.html","title":{"rendered":"A Second Look<\/em><\/font>
Touched by a Documentary Ode to Nelson Algren<\/strong><\/font>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some years ago I criticized Michael Caplan’s documentary ode to Nelson Algren as the cinematic equivalent of a pop tart. Now that I’ve had another look at it I see that I was very wrong. As Algren’s friend<\/strong><\/a> during the last years of his life, I was motivated to defend him against what I thought he would have disapproved of \u2014 epic praise that comes too late and an overdrawn emphasis on his love affair with Simone de Beauvoir. Seeing the film again, I was touched by it. Caplan re-edited the version I saw, but I don’t think that’s what made the difference. Have a look for yourself. It’s available to stream via <\/strong>Kanopy<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 free of charge \u2014 if you have a library card from a participating library or university affiliation. You can also rent it for a small fee or purchase it on Vimeo<\/a> and Prime Video<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Full disclosure:<\/strong> “I happen to be one of the talking heads in it … here and there … in an earlier version of myself.” \u2014 jh<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Postscript:<\/strong> Looking back, I found this forgotten email from 2014 that Michael Caplan sent me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
I want to thank you for your substantial contribution to the film. Your interview in 2009 was incredibly detailed and enabled us to find a clear story, distinct from the Bettina Drew biography.\u00a0It wasn't planned, but you are one of the few people whose interview is in the movie throughout the story. Also, your copy of Wolf's [Wondratschek] film was also critical . . .<\/strong>

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