Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story

Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story is a riveting 2012 documentary that delves deep into the life and exceptional career of acclaimed illustrator and writer, Tomi Ungerer. Directed by Brad Bernstein and featuring the voices of Tomi Ungerer himself, Maurice Sendak, and Jules Feiffer, this 98-minutes-long documentary paints a vivid picture of Ungerer's life, with all its highs, lows, triumphs, and trials.

The film commences with a profound gaze into Ungerer's childhood, spent amidst the turmoil of World War II in the region of Alsace, on the French-German border. His early years, fraught with fear and disruption, play a paramount role in shaping his worldview and artistic expression. The film manages to string together these compelling childhood narratives as the catalyst that prompted Ungerer's visual storytelling journey.

As the documentary progresses, viewers get a glimpse into Ungerer's struggling emigration to the United States amidst the booming cultural hubbub of the 1950s and 1960s. This portrait of Ungerer as an immigrant in post-war America is touching and insightful, revealing a barrier-breaking, risk-taking young artist in a society teeming with creativity.

The ensuing success in his career is attributed not just to his exceptional talent, but also his diversely provocative and avant-garde illustration style. Far Out Isn't Far Enough shines a spotlight on Ungerer's distinct inclination towards irreverence, shock, and absurdity. It shows how this renegade of a man became one of the defining voices of his generation, unafraid to step into the unseen and unexplored.

The film also revisits his impactful work as an illustrator of children's books during this period, a career shift that birthed timeless classics such as "The Three Robbers" and "Moon Man". These works brought Ungerer recognition as a creative powerhouse capable of transmuting complex themes of friendship, difference, and acceptance into simple, compelling tales for children.

However, Far Out Isn't Far Enough does not shy away from exploring the controversies surrounding Ungerer's career. His foray into creating erotic art and stark anti-war posters during the Vietnam War era ignited a wave of criticism and backlash that eventually caused him to be shunned by the commercial world of America. The documentary portrays this contentious period with grace and honesty, exploring the societal shockwaves of his artwork which led to his fall from favour.

The film does not just stop with Ungerer's fall but also celebrates his remarkable resurrection in Europe, where he continued his work unburdened by societal norms and biases. Viewers would surely be inspired by the artist's unyielding spirit and transformative nature as depicted in this docufilm.

Far Out Isn't Far Enough includes commentary and insights from individuals who have known, worked with, and admired Ungerer. Maurice Sendak, an American writer and illustrator of children's literature, and Jules Feiffer, an American syndicated cartoonist and author, both express their admiration and respect for Ungerer, including the significant impact he had on their lives and the wider world of illustration.

While the film delves deeply into Ungerer's professional life, it does not neglect the complexity of his personal life. The narrative adeptly explores the more intimate details of his relationships, heartbreaks, and familial ties, providing a comprehensive portrayal of this maximalist artist.

This Brad Bernstein-directed documentary is far beyond a simple chronicle of an artist's life; it's an exploration of the tremendous adaptability and resiliency of the human spirit that might even inspire viewers to push their own creative boundaries.

In essence, Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story encapsulates the spirit of Ungerer in a way that is intimate, captivating and truly representative of his life's mantra — a compelling testament to his belief that no idea or concept is too far to explore or too provocative to bring to life.