Award-winning documentary film-makers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (The Times Of Harvey Milk, The Celluloid Closet) take an impressionist approach for this ode to gay beat poet Allen Ginsberg, whose first published work, Howl, became the fiercely contested subject of a 1957 obscenity trial.
James Franco delivers a powerful performance as Ginsberg as the film relives this pivotal moment in history.
It uses dramatised court transcripts, archive footage and animation - contrasting Ginsberg’s clarity of vision on the page with the emotional turmoil in his private life as he comes to terms with his sexuality, finds a kindred spirit in Jack Kerouac (Eric Drooker), and falls head over heels in love with his soul mate, Peter Orlovsky (Aaron Tveit).
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