Year: 2020
Country:
UNITED STATES
Run Time:
85 minutes
Even if you’ve never heard the name Del Close, you’ve undoubtedly seen the products of his teachings. The list of performers—including decades of SNL cast members from Belushi to Poehler—whom Del mentored in the ways of long-form improv is endless. Although he lives on through the generations of comedians inspired by his instruction at The Second City and iO, Del never got his moment in the spotlight. But Heather Ross’s lively documentary places the comedy guru front and center, chipping away at the myth to catch glimpses of the man. Always the eccentric, Del made clear he was more interested in “truth” than “fact.” His tall tales were the stuff of legend. Accenting Del’s life story with surreal cells from his semi-autobiographical DC comic series Wasteland, FOR MADMEN ONLY utilizes multiple modes—talking heads from those who knew him best, animated cutouts, archival recordings, and quirky reenactments—to paint a spirited portrait of a funnyman who reached both the heights of genius and depths of despair. — D.O.
CIFF45 Streams On Demand
Thursday, April 08, 2021 at 11:00 AM -
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 11:59 PM
Streams Access: United States and US Territories
Accessibility (?)
Closed Captions: Yes
Audio Description: No
English Subtitles: No
Sidebar
Film is Art
Competitions
Nesnadny + Schwartz Portrait Documentary Competition
Reel Women Direct Award for Excellence in Directing by a Woman
Director
Heather Ross
Producers
Jennifer Pike, Adam Samual Goldman, Helen Hood Scheer
Cinematography
Steven Poster
Editing
George Mandl, Tova Goodman, Sean Jarret
Utopia Distribution
http://www.utopiadistribution.com
This film is presented in loving memory of
DERRICK PARIS.
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