The Source (1999)

The Source (1999)

1999-01-23 United States of America 88 Min. PG-13
5.1 12 votes

Overview

Traces the Beats from Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac's meeting in 1944 at Columbia University to the deaths of Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs in 1997. Three actors provide dramatic interpretations of the work of these three writers, and the film chronicles their friendships, their arrival into American consciousness, their travels, frequent parodies, Kerouac's death, and Ginsberg's politicization. Their movement connects with bebop, John Cage's music, abstract expressionism, and living theater. In recent interviews, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey, Ferlinghetti, Mailer, Jerry Garcia, Tom Hayden, Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, and others measure the Beats' meaning and impact.

Cast

Johnny Depp is Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Dennis Hopper is William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
John Turturro is Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
William S. Burroughs is Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)