"Having worked in the field of independent film for
over twelve years -with a special interest in, and knowledge
of, personal documentaries (I curated a retrospective of this
genre for the Sundance Film Festival), I can only say that THE
POET AND THE CON is the most powerful I have seen since the award-winning
SILVER LAKE LIFE.
I have rarely seen the courage, passion, & insight demonstrated
in the film. The section with the Trules family at the picnic,
the filmmaker's dealing with personal anti-Semitism, and the
manner in which the main story is revealed are all most effective.
Not only is the film a very personal document of the unique relationship
between the filmmaker and his uncle, but it is also a film that
deals with such universal themes as crime, family, morality,
and redemption. It also once more confirms for me the belief
that "real life" in film - when presented with artful
candor and story-telling skills - at least equals, and sometimes
surpasses, any fictional creation.
I feel strongly that THE POET AND THE CON has great potential
at both domestic and foreign film festivals, a better-than-usual
shot at theatrical exposure, and certainly a long and enduring
life in non-theatrical (ie. televison and education) markets."
Robert Hawk, ICI, and Advisor to the Sundance
Film Festival
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