The full episode is no longer available for online streaming.
—A Frank and Funny Portrait of the Creator of the Iconic TALES OF THE CITY—
Jennifer M. Kroot’s “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin,” winner of an Audience Award at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival, premiered on INDEPENDENT LENS, January 2018.
The film examines the life and work of one of the world's most beloved storytellers, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer whose novels have inspired millions to claim their own truth.
Kroot's documentary about the creator of TALES OF THE CITY moves nimbly from playful to poignant to wildly funny.
With help from his friends — including Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Sir Ian McKellen and Amy Tan — Maupin offers a disarmingly frank look at the journey that took him from the jungles of Vietnam to the bathhouses of '70s San Francisco to the frontlines of America’s ongoing culture war.
“Jennifer Kroot’s documentary — alternately warm, heartbreaking, and uproarious — reveals how Maupin became one of the first gay writers to attain crossover status,” said Lois Vossen, INDEPENDENT LENS executive producer. “For those who know Tales of the City – the books or television series – the documentary offers a frank look at Maupin's unlikely personal trajectory. For those who don't, it’s a fascinating introduction to an extraordinary man and a crash course in the evolution of the left-right culture clash that continues to this day."
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Credits:
Written and Directed by Jennifer M. Kroot. Edited and Co-Directed by Bill Weber. Produced by Gerry Kim, Jennifer M. Kroot and Mayuran Tiruchelvam. Director of Photography: Shane King. Composer: Michael Hearst. Sound Edit and Mix: Lora Hirschberg. Animation and Design: Grant Nellessen. Producers: Tina S. Kroot and Lewis Gillian. Consulting Producer: Jeffrey Schwarz. Associate Producers: Mission Pictures and Lotti Knowles
