Paul Goodman Changed My Life

PaulGoodmanwasoncesoubiquitousintheAmericanzeitgeistthathemeritedacameoinWoodyAllen'sAnnieHall.AuthoroflegendarybestsellerGrowingUpAbsurd(1960),Goodmanwasalsoapoet,1940soutqueer(andfamilyman),pacifist,visionary,co-founderofGestalttherapy--andamoralcompassformanyintheburgeoningcountercultureofthe'60s.PaulGoodmanChangedMyLifeimmersesyouinaneraofhighintellect(thatheady,cocktail-glassjuncturethatMadMenhassoeffectivelyexploited)whenNewYorkwaspeakingculturallyandartistically;whenideas,andthepeoplewhopropoundedthem,seemedtopunchinatahigherweightclassthantheydonow.Usingatreasuretroveofarchivalmultimedia--selectionsfromGoodman'spoetry(readbyGarrisonKeillorandEdmundWhite);quotesfromSusanSontag,MartinLutherKing,Jr.andNoamChomsky;plentifulfootageofGoodmanhimself;plusinterviewswithhisfamily,peersandactivists--director/producerJonathanLeeandproducer/editorKimberlyReed(ProdigalSons)havewoventogetherarichportraitofanintellectualheavyweightwhoseideasarelongoverdueforrediscovery.