I Am Secretly an Important Man

2010

1h 25m

Documentary

Biography

List

70%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

96%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

Friends, collaborators and others discuss the life and work of poet Jesse Bernstein.

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Audience Member

Steven J. Bernstein was one of the greatest Spoken Word artists of all time!!! An incredible writer in the vein of Burroughs Bukowski and even Hunter S. Thompson, but decidely more gritty and visually psychedelic with an extremely raw emotional punch. Down and out never sounded so good. I have followed his recordings in and around Seattle , his home and workplace, "The Sad Bag" was a masterpiece. and "Prison" is a stunning work of force, also his earlier recordings such as "Words and Music" with Peter Leinonen are revelatory stark lush gems. "This Clouded Heart" and "Murdered in the Middle of the Dance" as well as "Strip Poker" are some of my favorites. There is nothing like his verbal strike, the rhythm of his prose is indelibly etched in your mind, a relentless stream of words coming together to form luminous images , hovering somewhere outside. A Transcendence of darkness through the creative pathway, an austere use of comedy and pathos, his verbal barrage is incredibly beautiful, a dark human experience of shattering realism mixed with a trunkfull of soul. Hiis songs have the same effect. This movie is a testament to the hardworking ethos of a Seattle Cult figure and legendary writer soon to be seen as one of the great spoken word artists of the 20th century. SJB's prose is brutal and compassionate. Thank you Peter Sillen for making such a beautiful portrait of Steven J. Bernstein. May "I am secretly an important man" make the mark it deserves and finds its place as a true cult classic! Viva Steven Jesse Bernstein!! Here is a link to more movie release info and party favors. Enjoy...http://www.factorytwentyfive.com/

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jesse Bernstein found it amusing that young Germans were reciting the words to his poem "Come Out Tonight" at dance clubs in the 1980s. But this should not be surprising. His work is at once compelling, humorous, and disturbing. For example, his heartbreaking prose piece "Face." Both of these writings are featured in performance footage included in this well-crafted documentary film by Pete Sillen. Sweet, funny, and sad, the movie follows Jesse's complex life from precocious youngster in Los Angeles of the 1950s through various incarcerations to his involvement with the Grunge scene in Seattle before his suicide in 1991. Don't miss this glimpse into the life of an unsurpassed story-teller and extraordinary writer.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Punk before Punk, Bernstein was a true character, connecting the Beat generation to Seattle's Grunge. Hilarious, dangerous, and odd as hell, this film does a great job of bringing his story to life. Sillen's a great story teller and filmmaker.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an extraordinary film about a gifted artist. A writer and poet in the tradition of William S. Burroughs, Jesse Bernstein was widely regarded as "The Godfather of Grunge." Exceptional on every level.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Peter Sillen

Director

Jesse Bernstein

Actor

Alex R. Johnson

Producer

Peter Sillen

Producer

Lars Knudsen

Executive Producer

Jay Van Hoy

Executive Producer

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Steve Dollar

Wall Street Journal

Peter Sillen, an indie documentarian with a flair for engaging stubborn, eccentric performers brings his compassionate eye to the life of another subculture hero.

Mar 6, 2013

Full Review

Eric Hynes

Time Out

By all accounts, this secretly important man was tough to live with, but not too hard to love or admire.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 6, 2013

Full Review

V.A. Musetto

New York Post

The film might suffice if you're looking for something to watch on cable TV some early morning. But it isn't worth the hassle and expense of going to a theater.

Rated: 1.5/4

Apr 4, 2011

Full Review

Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

In the annals of local cinema, I Am Secretly an Important Man doesn't just document a fascinating figure, but gives pride of place to Old Seattle, aligning it closer to Martin Bell's Streetwise than to the work of Alan Rudolph or Robinson Devor.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 21, 2023

Full Review

Brian Miller

Seattle Weekly

Important Man sets Bernstein's nasal verse to elegant streetscape montages of the city then and now.

Mar 6, 2013

Full Review

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Synopsis

Friends, collaborators and others discuss the life and work of poet Jesse Bernstein.

Director: Peter Sillen
Producer: Lars Knudsen, Jay Van Hoy
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 25m

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