Regarding Susan Sontag
Directed by Nancy Kates
Starring Patricia Clarkson and Susan Sontag
Regarding Susan Sontag is an intimate study of one of the most influential and provocative thinkers of the 20th century. Endlessly curious and gracefully outspoken throughout her career, Susan Sontag became one of the most important literary, political, and feminist icons of her generation. Nancy Kates’ in-depth documentary tracks Sontag’s seminal, life-changing moments through archival materials, accounts from friends, family, colleagues, and lovers, as well as her own words, as read by Patricia Clarkson.
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Reviews
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★★★★ review by Madeleine Criglow on Letterboxd
I watched this a while ago but I just found out about the “notes on camp” themed met gala this year and I’m so excited. This documentary was a fun watch. Wayne Koestenbaum was my favorite talking head, partly because of his cute orange glasses. I also loved what he had to say about Susan Sontag’s over the top academic persona and how it made her the campiest of all. I’m so jealous all these celebrities get to go to a critical theory themed party!!
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★★★★ review by Austin on Letterboxd
Seen at Cine Detour in Roma, Italy.
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★★★★½ review by "Greg Adkins" on Letterboxd
Aspiring documentarians take note: here's an example of a movie that neither feels the need to force a narrative structure onto its subject nor just contents itself with being a Wikipedia entry given motion. A bit hagiographic, to be certain, but captures much of the appeal and the contradictions of its subject. You wish it could have gone one step further, and found a way to treat her life with the same style and jaundiced outlook that she turned on everything else, but as a straightforward doc goes, it's hard to fault.
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★★★★ review by Craig Duffy on Letterboxd
Birth to death but it doesn't overstay its welcome. Liked this one much more than the recent Gore Vidal doc. An artful doc about a fascinating woman. Makes me want to read her essays. Less so her fiction. Bonus points for the presence of Fran Lebowitz!
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★★★½ review by Chris Hormann on Letterboxd
A fairly straight doco of the writer, philosopher, essayist and lover of life, Susan Sontag which nevertheless shines a light on her endlessly fascinating life and career.
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