November 11, 2009


Sendak Documentary on HBO

Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze have created a remarkable short documentary, Tell Them Anything You Want: a Portrait of Maurice Sendak.  In a mere 41 minutes, Sendak–presented through the sublime filmmaking abilities of Jonze and Bangs–captures what it means to be an individual, what it means to be human, and what it means to be a child.  The film is so short and so casually presented that its hugeness sneaks up on the viewer.  I’ve watched it twice and am ready to see it again.

I’m inarticulate this morning and can’t find my words.  The film speaks beautifully for itself.  Please watch it.

posted by Cindy Scroggins in beauty, books, humans, interviews, memory, movies, publishing 

comments

3 Responses to “Sendak Documentary on HBO”

  1. Deron Bauman on November 11th, 2009 at 10:58 am

    thank you. will do.

  2. bobfromthesunset on November 11th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    Did you hear the interview Sendak did a few years ago for Fresh Air that was recently replayed?

    He discussed why he rarely does book signings anymore: He has seen so many children herded before him by parents who have drilled the children in the preceding days about how they have to be quiet, how they have to be respectful of Mr. Sendak, how they have to be polite to Mr. Sendak, etc. so by the time they approach the table with him sitting on the other side, the children are terrified. Sendak said it was just too painful for him to see so many uncomfortable children – and children who were uncomfortable by him.

    And, you probably saw the recent interview where someone was tut-tutting about whether parents would be upset by the dark parts of the movie and Sendak responded “They can go to hell.” Bravo.

  3. Cindy Scroggins on November 11th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Thanks, bobf’t–I did listen to both of those interviews (the “go to hell” one was discussed here at cf, as a matter of fact). What a fascinating man.

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