Synopsis
A poignant and humorous film telling the life story of the hugely popular author of the discworld series of books, in his own words.
Terry Pratchett: Back in Black
2017 Directed by Charlie Russell
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UK
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UK
11 Feb 2017
- TV BBC Two
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This is a remarkable docu about a remarkable writer.
Framing the documentary in true Terry Pratchett style it's narrated by Pratchett himself (a spoton portrayal by Paul Kaye) it never feels like a standard biopic.
It has interviews with his closes friends and fellow writers (Neil Gaimann will bring you to tears), but also includes interviews with Pratchett himself from right before his death. I might add that these images are pretty hard to watch... to see this brilliant artist, a magician with words, stumble to answer simple questions. Heartbreaking.It's a must see for fans. Sadly it's a bit short and could've delved deeper. But it's true to the man himself.
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Terry Pratchett writing The Carpet People at age 17 is even more insane than Welles making Citizen Kane at 26. One of the greatest writers on human nature and also the funniest man to ever live.
"Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape. You have to start out learning to believe the little lies so you can believe the big ones- Justice. Mercy. Duty. That sort of thing. You need to believe in things that aren’t true. How else can they become?"
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Paul Kaye is actually incredible in this. I think one of the reasons they have archive footage of Terry Pratchett was just to remind you that this isn't him on screen now talking to you in his voice with that damn beautiful fedora.
Acting aside this is a wonderful portrait of the life of a very much beloved writer of very much beloved books. Made with all the humour of a Pratchett novel, this really is a joy to watch. The contributions are insightful and poignant - particularly from Neil Gaiman who may just make ya cry.
It was sad to think of a man who was such a prolific writer not being able to do just that in his latter years - but in true Pratchett style the sadness is never overstated and balanced with a wonderful sense of humour.
This is a rather wonderful documentary that just feels right.
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I’ve talked elsewhere about being a major fan of Sir Pratchett’s work. I’ve been putting off watching this documentary about his life with an actor portraying him, but I needed to watch it for part of the series I am writing about the reading order for the Discworld. It was really good, but I’m not sure the central conceit that it was ‘him telling us his story’ was necessary, and a straight talking heads biography would have been more informative. But the Pratchett clan were never ones to do what other people do so I will appreciate it for trying something different.
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A lovely tribute to the singular Terry Pratchett. Now where's that copy of Night Watch I've been saving...
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Damn, I miss this guy.
He truly is the best of us. A caring, decent person bringing joy through beautiful, intelligent words.
And Death, his old friend, claimed him too early.
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Χμ,υπάρχει ξεκάθαρα για τους φαν του Sir Pratchett.
(Ωπ,γεια σου Νeil.Βούρκωσες και βούρκωσα και γω,αχ) -
το καλύτερο το είπε ένα κριτικός λογοτεχνίας σε μια εκπομπή της Βρετανικής τηλεόρασης το 1994, "he's selling thousands of copies, a complete amateur, he doesn't even write in chapters"
μαγεία
[παρόλα αυτά θα ήθελα ένα πιο μακροσκελές ντοκιμαντέρ και δεν μπορώ να πω πως το φορμά τούτου δω με ικανοποίησε]