American Magus

American Magus

94 mins | Documentary, Music | Jan. 1, 2002

Harry Smith was neglected during his life but, as more details about his work emerged since his death in 1991, he is now recognized as one of the great visionary outsiders of American art. A painter, experimental film-maker, occultist, musicologist and self-proclaimed urban anthropologist, Smith has been championed by everyone from Bob Dylan ('without Harry Smith I wouldn't have existed') to Beck and the Grateful Dead. With its stumbling narration (from Igliori herself) and crude mix of film footage, interviews and music, this is not a polished documentary, but Smith is such a wondrously exotic subject it's easy to overlook the formal inadequacies.

American Magus

94 mins | Documentary, Music | Jan. 1, 2002

American Magus
Harry Smith was neglected during his life but, as more details about his work emerged since his death in 1991, he is now recognized as one of the great visionary outsiders of American art. A painter, experimental film-maker, occultist, musicologist and self-proclaimed urban anthropologist, Smith has been championed by everyone from Bob Dylan ('without Harry Smith I wouldn't have existed') to Beck and the Grateful Dead. With its stumbling narration (from Igliori herself) and crude mix of film footage, interviews and music, this is not a polished documentary, but Smith is such a wondrously exotic subject it's easy to overlook the formal inadequacies.
Producers Inandout Digital Productions
Original title American Magus
Directors Paola Igliori
Writers

Cast

Harry Smith

as Himself

Allen Ginsberg

as Himself