Special Events 2017 / I Am Heath Ledger / Canada 2017
The charismatic actor appearing in the iconic role of the Joker left us before he was able to completely fulfil his creative potential. Nine years after the star’s tragic death comes a documentary portrait which doesn’t merely focus on Ledger, it also conveys his perception of the world through his own personal archives.
It’s January 22, 2008 and Heath Ledger, one of the most popular actors of his time, is found dead. News of the death of this charismatic star, whose life was untainted by any major scandals, revived the debate regarding the deleterious nature of stardom, which devours some people whole. Nine years later, Derik Murray and Adrian Buitenhuis are not interested in any potential scandals surrounding Ledger’s passing. Their film ignores its tabloid dimension, focusing instead on those aspects of the actor’s personality that were better known to those close to him. Ledger is not reduced to his iconic roles – the Joker from The Dark Knight, the lovable idol of romantic comedies, or the cowboy from Brokeback Mountain – but is shown as a perceptive actor with directing ambitions, as illustrated by previously unpublished excerpts from his personal archives. I Am Heath Ledger is not a film about a broken personality or a problematic individual, but a sensitive portrait of an inspirational and creative person whose short life didn’t give him enough time to fully develop his great talent.
Sandra Hezinová
91 min / Color, DCP
European premiere
Director Derik Murray, Adrian Buitenhuis
/ Screenplay Hart Snider
/ Dir. of Photography Shaun Lawless
/ Music David F. Ramos
/ Editor J.R. Mackie, Hart Snider
/ Producer Derik Murray
/ Production Network Entartainment, Spike TV
/ Sales FremantleMedia
www: www.iamheathledger.com
Derik Murray is a Canadian filmmaker who started out as an advertising photographer and later moved into film and television, with a focus on documentary portraits of famous individuals that he usually produces and co-directs. He is the founder of Network Entertainment. His fellow Canadian Adrian Buitenhuis has directed and produced documentaries for Sony Pictures, CBS, and Vice Media. Since working for Network Entertainment, he has shot documentaries about Pablo Escobar and Suge Knight as part of National Geographic Channel’s seven-part series “Facing,” which looks at the lives of famous individuals.
FremantleMedia
1 Stephen St, W1T 1AL, London
United Kingdom
E-mail: [email protected]
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