Tell Them Who You Are (2004)

The son of acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler confronts his complex father by turning the camera on him. What results is a portrait of a difficult genius and a son's path out of the shadow of a famous father.

Director:

Mark Wexler

Writers:

Robert DeMaio, Mark Wexler

Stars:

Billy Crystal, Norman Jewison, Haskell Wexler

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Bart	...	Himself
Verna Bloom	...	Herself
Billy Crystal	...	Himself
Michael Douglas	...	Himself
Jane Fonda	...	Herself
Milos Forman	...	Himself
Troy Garity	...	Himself
Ronnie Gilbert	...	Herself
Conrad L. Hall	...	Himself
Conrad W. Hall	...	Himself
Tom Hayden	...	Himself
Dennis Hopper	...	Himself
Ron Howard	...	Himself
Norman Jewison	...	Himself
Elia Kazan	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Mark Wexler's cinematic blend of biography and autobiography centers on his relationship with his father, legendary Oscar-winning cinematographer and filmmaker Haskell Wexler, whose long and illustrious career is a virtual catalogue of 20th-century classics. Haskell's collaborations with such world-class filmmakers as Elia Kazan, Milos Forman, George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola and Mike Nichols include such works as WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, COMING HOME, BOUND FOR GLORY and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. The film features interviews with many of these artists, along with such luminaries as Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas and Sidney Poitier. But the true "star" of TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE is Haskell himself, a controversial, larger-than-life character who challenges his son's filmmaking skills while announcing with complete conviction that he could have done a better job directing most of the movies he's shot. As these two men swap positions on camera and behind it...

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Plot Keywords:

cinematographer | political differences | semi autobiographical | birthday party | world war two | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 June 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

My Cinematographer

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,060 (USA) (13 May 2005)

Gross:

$38,580 (USA) (5 August 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wexler's World

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features The Loved One (1965)

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Soundtracks

"Goodnight Irene"
Words and Music by Leadbelly (as Huddie Ledbetter) and John A. Lomax
Courtesy of TRO - Ludlow Music, Inc.
Performed by The Weavers
Licensed from and used by permission of Vanguard Records, a Welk music Group Company
(p) Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Company

User Reviews

This film is a mess

Given the subject matter this could have been a great documentary. Instead it looks like a hap hazard home movie. Mark Wexler totally lost control of the subject -- his father. You get a real sense of who Haskell Wexler is, pretty much of a jerk. He gets thrown off of a film, One Flew Over a Cuckoo's Nest, and he thinks it is because the FBI interfered or threatened the producers. This is ridiculous. He sounds like a total pain in the ass to work with, which is why he was fired from the film. No less than Elia Kazan concedes he is brilliant, but he would never work with him again. Mark's documentary of his father is all over the place, very incoherent, seems to go nowhere. Compare it to My Father the Architect that came out about two years ago and it comes up lacking.