Cowboy Poets

Fried Shoes Cooked Diamonds

October 1979 •English

After World War II a group of young writers, outsiders and friends who were disillusioned by the pursuit of the American dream met in New York City. Associated through mutual friendships, these cultural dissidents looked for new ways and means to express themselves. Soon their writings found an audience and the American media took notice, dubbing them the Beat Generation. Members of this group included writers Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg. a trinity that would ultimately influence the works of others during that era, including the "hippie" movement of the '60s. In this 55-minute video narrated by Allen Ginsberg, members of the Beat Generation (including the aforementioned Burroughs, Anne Waldman, Peter Orlovsky, Amiri Baraka, Diane Di Prima, and Timothy Leary) are reunited at Naropa University in Boulder, CO during the late 1970's to share their works and influence a new generation of young American bohemians.

Hello My Dear

May 2021 •Turkish

The documentary is titled after Arkadaş Z. Özger’s poem “Hello My Dear” which had caused much controversy in the period it was first published. Considered to be in defiance of heteronormativity, the said poem includes references to the poet’s personality, his family, his relationship to the society, and his “unexpected” death, which came three years after its publication. Today, 50 years after it was written, the documentary follows these same lines in the poem utilising cinematic elements. The documentary also rediscovers the poetics; reaches out to the family, the comrades, the friendships, departing from the official historical accounts, cognizant of his experience of otherness, in pursuit of the “lost” portrait of Arkadaş Z. Özger.

Cacaso

April 2016 •Portuguese

Cacaso, a Brazilian poet, lived in Rio de Janeiro. Born Antonio Carlos de Brito (1944-1987) he was one of the leaders of the marginal poetry movement. Cacaso filled notebooks not only with poems but reflections, drawings and collages. He also became a lyricist and partner of celebrated songwriters such as Tom Jobim, Edu Lobo, Toninho Horta, João Donato and Sivuca.

Manic Magic: a Poem in Four Parts

February 2025 •English

A poem about mania written by Omar Zefier. His second film.

The Music of Life

December 2009 •Russian

Eldar Ryazanov reads his poetry. An introspective movie on his multifaceted work.

Fernanda Pivano: A Farewell to Beat

October 2001 •Italian

The Language of Trees

January 1983 •Spanish

An exploration on Paz's poetry by Paz himself, his childhood, his ideas about love and the nature of art

Jo

February 2025 •English

Jo; or The Act of Riding a Bike is Zefier's third film.

A Fanatic Heart: Geldof On Yeats

April 2016 •English

A biography of the poet W. B. Yeats and his contribution to the Irish independence movement as a Protestant nationalist.

No Regret

June 1993 •English

Five gay Black men who are HIV-positive discuss how they are battling the double stigmas surrounding their infection and homosexuality.

A Farra do Circo

November 2013 •Portuguese

This documentary highlights the evolution of Brazil's Circo Voador venue from homespun artists' performance space to national cultural institution.

Isla Negra: Neruda y el mar

July 1990 •Spanish

Sophia, In Her Own Words

October 2019 •Portuguese

Using the author's personal estate, current images of places where she lived or were dear to her, and archival images of television and film; using parts of her prose and poetry always with first-person testimonies; from Porto to Lisbon, from Granja to Lagos, from the Atlantic Sea to the Mediterranean, from Greece to 25 April: the passions and disappointments of a life and work dedicated to the search for the real, freedom and justice.

Jean Genet: Saint, martyr et poète

July 1975 •French

Poetic stroll in the work of Jean Genet.

Song

April 2014 •Finnish

Song is a story of the last Finnish rune singer and his pupil, and the comforting power of singing.

The Desperado from Kolsva

April 2004 •Swedish

About Jösta Hagelbäck (1945-2009), Swedish film director, writer, poet, musician, actor etc. A human bipolar mixture of genius and madman. Invited to Hollywood, had an artistic hit with the film "Kejsaren/The Emperor" (1979) at the Berlin Film Festival.

De la rivière à la mer

October 2019 •French

Amarillo By Morning

January 1998 •English

While filming professional bullriders for a commercial at the national rodeo in Houston, Texas, Spike Jonze befriended two suburban teenagers who aspired to be cowboys. The documentary chronicles an afternoon in their lives.

A Cowboy in Lisbon

April 2025 •Portuguese

Tired of my city, I imagine the arrival of a cowboy in Lisbon.

The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of Mark E. Smith

January 2005 •English

A 1-hour Documentary looking at the Manchester post-punk group and its infamous leader Mark E Smith. The Film follows the current band recording their final Session for the John Peel Show (they were his favourite group and recorded more sessions than any other band) as well as chronicling the chaotic history of the band & its numerous line-up changes.