A lot of writers are the dream subjects of documentary makers. They just lead such interesting lives that you can’t help but be curious about the people behind the books you love.
The more acclaimed a writer is, the more unique (and often tragic) their life experiences are. These are the events that other writers often obsess over, as they try to glean what exactly made their peers such excellent storytellers.
Best Documentaries About Writers
We’ve written about movies about writers and the writing profession. This list will focus more on historical events about actual writers and their personal lives, struggles, motivations, and successes.
1. Margaret Atwood: Once in August
Produced by the National Film Board of Canada, this documentary follows director Michael Rubbo as he tries to unlock the secrets behind the mysterious Margaret Atwood.
This is the Atwood a year before her most famous work, The Handmaid’s Tale, showing a glimpse of the author still to rise as an icon of the writing world.
2. The Charles Bukowski Tapes
Filmed and assembled by Barbet Schroeder, this is a collection of more than 50 interviews that are almost four hours long. It features Charles Bukowski, best known for his writings on urban life and American society.
For the most part, Schroeder simply sets up the camera and lets Bukowski speak with no restriction. It allowed him to paint a genuine picture of the man, including all the uncomfortable and sometimes horrific parts.
3. Breakfast with Hunter
Writer Hunter S. Thompson is best known for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, a book written about the perceived failure of the counterculture movement.
Over the many years on the road with the writer, director Wayne Ewing follows Thompson as he creates his own brand of writing—gonzo journalism.
4. And Everything Is Going Fine
Much of Spalding Gray’s legacy lies within his autobiographical monologues. Here, director Steven Soderbergh strives to capture that wry wit by using entirely archival footage, making the documentary feel like the last performance of the departed monologist.
5. Life Itself
Roger Ebert made his mark as a film critic known for his direct, yet entertaining style of criticism that even the most mainstream audience can appreciate.
Director Steve James shows a voiceless, yet still cheerful Ebert in his final months. Interspersed are clips from Ebert’s career, including interviews with family, friends, and colleagues who witnessed a movie geek on the rise.
6. Dreams with Sharp Teeth
Where to start with Harlan Ellison? He’s an award-winning writer who influenced the New Wave of science fiction. But he’s also famous for his temperament, being abrasive and argumentative—an opinion he agrees with.
All of that is shown here, as director Erik Nelson mostly lets the outspoken writer rant, tell jokes, and simply be. The result is an entertaining romp through Ellison’s life and career, with additional input from his contemporaries.
7. Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold
Joan Didion was a pioneer of New Journalism; a writer known for her distinctively precise prose and intense analyses of social and political elements.
Directed by her nephew Griffin Dunne, this documentary takes you on a journey through Didion’s joys and tragedies. From the counterculture movements of the 1960s to the sorrows of the 2000s, this is a ride you don’t want to miss.
8. Salinger
Best known as the writer of The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger is a recluse who shuns the limelight. His writings consisted of stories that examined alienation, loss of innocence, and finding a place in the world.
Renowned screenwriter Shane Salermo pieces together—from interviews with friends, family, and historians—the life of a man and writer whose refusal of fame is just as known as his most celebrated work.
9. William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
As a primary member of the Beat Generation, William S. Burroughs has influenced many writers from subsequent generations. His seminal work, Naked Lunch is one of the most censored and honored by American literature.
This documentary is a deep dive into Burroughs’ career, featuring unreleased footage and interviews with his friends and colleagues. It celebrates his best moments but doesn’t forget to explore the darker aspects of his life.
10. Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
Gore Vidal’s legacy extended beyond literature, being a politician, wit, and critic. In his lifetime, he often feuded with some of the most prominent personalities of his era.
This is what this documentary aims to capture—a man writer larger than life who wasn’t afraid to stand up for the things he believed in, whoever his opponent may be.
Documenting a Writer’s Life
All creatives encounter a mix of ridicule, regret, acceptance, and recognition—all of which lead to valuable life experiences.
Some of them are easier to document because of the visual nature of their art. Musicians are recorded live, actors are heavily filmed, painters have art galleries, and so on.
But writers? Writers can be mysterious. People rarely see or think about the face behind the books they love. This gives writers a screen of anonymity but also an allure that draws a filmmaker’s attention.
How a writer is able to create something powerful out of words is something that many people want to know. And filmmakers understand to get an answer, they must sift through a writer’s life experiences.
What documentary about a writer did you like? Share it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
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- 8 Books Becoming Movies in 2020: What to Read Before it Hits the Screen
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
