Me and My Brother (film)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Me and My Brother is a 1969 independent film directed by Robert Frank. The film stars Julius Orlovsky, Peter Orlovsky, John Coe, Seth Allen and Christopher Walken in his feature film debut. It is Sam Shepard's film debut. The film tells a story of Peter and Julius Orlovsky. Christopher Walken speaking with the dubbed voice of Robert Frank.
Plot
The "Me" and "My Brother" of the title are interchangeably Peter Orlovsky (a poet and protégé of Allen Ginsberg), and his schizophrenic brother Julius. Peter arranges for Julius' release from Bellevue Hospital and proceeds to drag him all over the Beat landscape with a film crew in tow.
Robert Frank does yeoman work following the manic Peter and catatonic Julius from one situation to another until Julius wanders off camera and out of the picture. At this point Joseph Chaikin takes Julius' place and fills in for a time. The overall effect is fascinating, and the film has a great deal to say about what we consider normal and acceptable behavior vs. what we consider "mad" behavior.
See also
