“SR.”
Late underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. receives a fittingly unconventional tribute in this documentary portrait, which combines intimate footage from his final years with a stirring look at his life and career. With the participation of the revered director’s son, actor Robert Downey Jr., acclaimed documentarian Chris Smith (AMERICAN MOVIE) began filming Downey Sr. in his final years. These sequences capture the maverick director’s restless creativity, as he insistently takes the reins of the film being made about him despite his failing health. Movingly, Downey Sr. also reflects candidly on aging, his tumultuous relationship with the movie industry, and his complex but loving relationship with his very famous offspring. Smith also employs clips from Downey Sr.’s remarkable films (including underground classics Putney Swope and Greaser’s Palace, as well as 2005’s Rittenhouse Square, also screening in the festival) and interviews with family, friends, and admirers to provide further insight into his fascinating life and career. Made with palpable affection for its subject, SR. is a one-of-a-kind portrait of a one-of-a-kind artistic talent.
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