Al Purdy Was Here

2015

1h 30m

Biography

List

100%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Canadian musicians and artists come together to tell the life story of Al Purdy.

Brad Wheeler

Globe and Mail

If we didn't know who Al Purdy was before, we do now.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 4, 2015

Full Review

Martin Knelman

Toronto Star

Brian D. Johnson makes a strong transformation from Maclean's film critic to documentary director with this engaging account of the late Al Purdy, the colourful rebel poet who became a CanLit star.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 3, 2015

Full Review

Angelo Muredda

Cinema Scope

The mostly assured trafficking between a chronicle of Purdy's career and an assessment of his literary and familial legacy is the film's main strength, but also something of a liability.

Nov 13, 2017

Full Review

Adrian Mack

Georgia Straight

Canada's greatest poet receives a warm and eminently watchable tribute from critic turned filmmaker Brian D. Johnson.

Feb 22, 2016

Full Review

Michael D. Reid

Victoria Times Colonist (B.C., Canada)

An affectionate documentry that is captivating enough to make you want to learn more ab out this droll, beer-loving wordsmith.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 12, 2016

Full Review

Alison Gillmor

Winnipeg Free Press

Al Purdy Was Here is not a definitive portrait, and probably isn't meant to be. Instead, the film uses an image here, an anecdote there, to build up a dynamic sense of an elusive and complex personality.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 3, 2015

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Don't watch this shite.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Brian D. Johnson

Director

Brian D. Johnson

Screenwriter

Marni Jackson

Screenwriter

Brian D. Johnson

Producer

Nick de Pencier

Cinematographer

Nick Taylor

Film Editing

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Endless Poetry

94%

81%

Endless Poetry

TRAILER

for Endless Poetry

Thank You for Playing

90%

71%

Thank You for Playing

The Last Impresario

94%

44%

The Last Impresario

Requiem for the American Dream

92%

84%

Requiem for the American Dream

Simone: Woman of the Century

71%

73%

Simone: Woman of the Century

TRAILER

for Simone: Woman of the Century

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Canadian musicians and artists come together to tell the life story of Al Purdy.

Director: Brian D. Johnson
Producer: Brian D. Johnson
Screenwriter: Brian D. Johnson, Marni Jackson
Production Co: CBC documentary channel, Purdy Pictures, Rogers Documentary Fund
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 30m