Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story

FAR OUT ISN'T FAR ENOUGH is not your typical documentary about an illustrator and author of children's books. In fact, the word “typical” could never be used to describe anything about Tom Ungerer. Born in France, he lived through the German occupation of Alsace, an experience that had a profound impact on his career as an artist. Moving to New York in the 1950s, he ruffled feathers in the industry by creating books that some found to be too harsh and strange for kids. Later, he began making sexually explicit books for adults, which prompted a controversy that eventually led to his books being banned. The censorship turned his creativity into a tool of activism and he began illustrating political posters, most notably against the war in Vietnam. FAR OUT ISN'T FAR ENOUGH gets deep into Ungerer's mind and makes it perfectly clear: he's borderline insane. But it's that insanity that makes his work so incredibly unique and brilliant. Tom Ungererer is who he is, and instead of fearing it, this film celebrates it loudly. – E.F.