A Ferlinghetti Poem 1968
A Ferlinghetti Poem (1968) is a striking experimental animation that transforms Lawrence Ferlinghetti's iconic Beat Generation poem into a visual collage of contrasts.
Director: William Frew
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Ferlinghetti Poem (1968) about?
This animated short visualizes Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poem by blending cel animation with collage imagery, contrasting the beauty of American culture with the horror of historical atrocities. Set against the backdrop of Vietnam War protests and student activism, it's a bold exploration of contradiction, poetry, and societal tension.
Who directed A Ferlinghetti Poem?
William Frew directed this experimental UCLA Student Film, merging animation and found footage into a striking visual narrative.
Who stars in A Ferlinghetti Poem?
The film features Rod Embry in the key role of narrating and animating Ferlinghetti's poem.
Is A Ferlinghetti Poem (1968) worth watching?
Though unrated, this 1968 experimental film is a fascinating artifact of underground cinema and a bold fusion of poetry and animation. Its raw, handcrafted style and political urgency make it compelling for fans of avant-garde art and 1960s counterculture.
How long is A Ferlinghetti Poem?
Runtime details are not listed.
About A Ferlinghetti Poem (1968) — How a Beat poem became a handcrafted visual manifesto
A Ferlinghetti Poem (1968) is a striking experimental animation that transforms Lawrence Ferlinghetti's iconic Beat Generation poem into a visual collage of contrasts. Directed by William Frew, this UCLA Student Film blends cel animation with found imagery—repurposing photographs from glossy magazines and juxtaposing them against haunting Holocaust images. Set against the backdrop of late-1960s anti-war protests and student unrest, the film weaves hyper-pop visuals of American consumerism with the raw urgency of Ferlinghetti's words, creating a provocative meditation on beauty, violence, and societal contradictions.
The result is a raw, handcrafted piece of underground cinema that feels both timeless and urgently modern. By merging collage techniques with poetic rhythm, Frew crafts an atmosphere that's at once chaotic and hypnotic, inviting viewers to question the world's contradictions. Preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, this color film is a fascinating time capsule of 1960s counterculture and a bold experiment in animated storytelling that still resonates today.