Poetry in Motion

1982 1h 31m EN

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8.0

BANGER

★8.0TMDB · 3

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

More than 20 contemporary North American poets recite, sing, and perform their work. Early in the film, Charles Bukowski talks about the energy of poets and of a poem. These poets are the children of Walt Whitman and of Charles Olson, incantatory and oratorical, radical, sometimes incorporating contemporary political imagery. Black Mountain poets, the Beats, minimalists like John Cage, the wordless Four Horsemen, Tom Waits, and others capture aspects of poets as troubadours.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Charles Bukowski
Self
William S. Burroughs
Self
John Cage
Self
Jim Carroll
Self
Robert Creeley
Self
Allen Ginsberg
Self
Tom Waits
Self
Gary Snyder
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ron Mann
Languages: English
Countries: Canada

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ron Mann, shot by Robert Fresco. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Charles Bukowski and William S. Burroughs and John Cage carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0084514 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ron Mann directs. Robert Fresco behind the camera. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Canada. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

144 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Ron Mann, shot by Robert Fresco. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Charles Bukowski and William S. Burroughs and John Cage carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt0084514 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Robert Fresco
Runtime: 91 min · 1h 31m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): 18A
IMDB: Poetry in Motion (1982)

Also by

Ron Mann

Key crew

Release history · US

When it landed

Premiere1982-09-1718A· Source: IMDb (Toronto Film Festival)

6.8