Jack Garfein was an American film and theater director, writer, teacher, producer, and a key figure at the Actors' Studio. However, I don't remember ever hearing Garfein's name before seeing "The Wild One", Tessa Louise-Salomé's film premiering in the Documentary competition at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.
After seeing this doc, I am hopeful of finding and viewing Garfein's films. His career floundered because his work wasn't commercial and because he was essentially blackballed for wandering into areas that Hollywood just didn't go at that time
Before embarking on his career, Garfein had quite a bit of misfortune. Being born in Czechoslovakia in 1930 as a Jew was not a recipe for a carefree life, and he was taken to Auschwitz at the age of 13 and ultimately spent time in 11 concentration camps.
In 1946, Garfein came to the U.S. determined to be in the film industry. He got there but encountered difficulties that truly puzzled him.
Garfein's film career only consists of two features. The first was "The Strange One", adapted from his theater production of "End as a Man". It's an ensemble piece set in a sadistic Southern military academy that seems greatly influenced by his time under fascism. The studio released it after cutting out the ending because there were some black actors in it.
His second feature was "Something Wild", adapted from Alex Karmel's novel "Mary Ann." In the film, his then-wife Carroll Baker plays a young rape victim held captive by a man (Ralph Meeker) who rescued her from a suicide attempt. His career as a director was essentially over.
"The Wild One" is narrated by Willem Dafoe, sometimes as if Garfein was talking. The film switches back and forth between different parts of Garfein's life, including his youth, confinement in concentration camps, and his time in America.
Salomé does a marvelous job presenting a bio of an exceptionally artistic man in her own artistic manner. It works beautifully as an introduction to Garfein and as a piece of art on its own.
| Movie title | The Wild One |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2022 |
| MPAA Rating | NR |
| Our rating | |
| Summary | This artistically pleasing bio-doc tells the story of a director who refused to be controlled by the restraints of Hollywood. |
