Bowles spent virtually his entire adult life as a self-imposed expatriate in Tangier, Morocco, and there are lovely passing shots of the city and surrounding terrain. What is missing is a sense of why Bowles felt compelled to leave the United States, despite one interviewee's comment that Bowles "abhors reality," which was evidently more on display in the U.S. than overseas. The documentary, filmed in 1993 and previously available on VHS, is probably geared more to those with some previous knowledge and exposure to Bowles, since many biographical details are either skipped or dealt with in passing. Bowles' translations, for instance (he gave us the first English translation of Sartre's "No Exit", a title he bestowed upon the play, as well as English translations of many Moroccan writers) seem almost a sidebar here. There are, however, wonderful interviews with a host of Bowles appreciators, most notably Allen Ginsburg, and, as stated, long segments with Bowles himself.

If the film is lacking something as a self-contained biographical documentary, it at least provides enough information for a good jumping-off point. The Bowles Estate has set up an authorized website at:

http://www.PaulBowles.org

The DVD

Video:
The DVD accurately reproduces the somewhat grainy look of the original 1993 source elements. Despite its exotic locale, don't expect widescreen, high def vistas--this is a standard, low budget documentary in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio.

Sound: A perfectly adequate Dolby 2 channel stereo soundtrack is the only audio option.

Extras: There are two brief featurettes, one with filmmakers Catherine Warnow and Regina Weinerich, and another with composer Ned Rorem, who was one of Bowles' closest friends and confidantes. Filmed in 2007, they give some perspective on the filming of the documentary itself and also the reevaluation of Bowles' importance as both a literary figure and composer since his death in 1999. There is also a Bowles bibliography, biographies of the filmmakers, and a trailer gallery from First Run Features.

Final Thoughts:
This DVD virtually defines "niche market." If you are a fan of Bowles' writing or music, this is a nice chance to see the man in person while perhaps picking up a stray fact or two about his life. There are probably better avenues for a more complete biography of Bowles, but this documentary provides some interesting first-hand insight into one of the most underappreciated, but increasingly important, voices of 20th century American literature and music.

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"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet