The Charles Bukowski Tapes

The Charles Bukowski Tapes is an engrossing compilation of 52 short interview clips with the revered American author and poet, Charles Bukowski. The movie, released in 1985, features Charles Bukowski himself, along with director Barbet Schroeder and Bukowski's wife Linda Lee Bukowski. This vivid and insightful film amasses a total of four hours of in-depth, intimate, and raw footage, making it a unique piece of documentary cinema that revolves around the periphery of this compelling figure from American counterculture.

Directed by the noted French filmmaker Barbet Schroeder, the movie pointedly doesn't follow a typical narrative or thematic structure. Instead, it takes the viewers through an assemblage of interviews that were conducted over a period of three years. This somewhat unconventional approach results in an authentically vivid portrait of Bukowski that aptly encapsulates his persona, life, controversies, and his noteworthy contribution to literature.

Throughout the run time, we see Bukowski, the iconoclastic writer, often cooler-wielding, chain-smoking, and uncensored, partake in unguarded conversations with Schroeder. The subjects of these conversations are as varying and unpredictable as Bukowski’s own creations. These snippets touch upon his views about life, his writing process, reminiscences of his turbulent days, his conception of death, his thoughts on love, and much more. Intertwined are those bits where the camera documents his engagement with everyday routines like betting on horses or meandering about his neighborhood, providing an insight into the man's mundane activities.

By sentiment, some talks are light-hearted and humorous, showing a playful side of Bukowski. There are others, however, that reveal a more profound layer of his self. One could get a glimpse of his controversial personality while still understanding his humanistic and oftentimes vulnerable side. It allows the viewers to go beyond the writer's well-articulated works and perceive the man himself, with his imperfections and eccentricities forming an important part of the narrative.

In several sequences, the camera captures Bukowski at his typewriter, illustrating the man in his creative pursuits. These provide a captivating commentary on his writing style, which was famously uninhibited, rugged, and deeply embedded in realism. The veracity that one finds in Bukowski's poetry and prose emanates equally in these chronicles, appearing almost like a parallel to his literary body.

While most segments see the author alone, there are markers where Linda Lee Bukowski, his then-wife, also contributes her perspectives. Her appearances offer another dimension to the narrative, bringing to light their relationship, commonalities, and disagreements, hence giving viewers a sneak peek into Bukowski's domestic life.

Barbet Schroeder adopts a refreshingly unobtrusive style of direction through the movie that contributes to maintaining the rawness of the content. His relationship with Bukowski goes beyond the realm of this film, as Schroeder was also the director of 'Barfly', a semi-autobiographical film based on the writer's life where Bukowski wrote the screenplay. This close association is palpable in The Charles Bukowski Tapes, as Schroeder carefully curates these multifaceted interviews to reveal the complex personality of the author.

Despite its lengthy running time, this film never feels exhausting. The short clips ensure that the viewer remains intrigued as the scene swiftly shifts from one narrative to another. It's a collage of life-size portraits, existential musings, quasi-philosophical discussions, and raw expositions that fan or not, would appeal to anyone with a curiosity for real, undiluted human stories.

Whether you're a committed fan of Charles Bukowski's work, an admirer of American literature, or a documentary enthusiast, The Charles Bukowski Tapes is a treasure trove of raw, gritty, and unplugged content, making it a worthy addition to your 'must-watch' list.