Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time

Released Nov 19, 2021

2h 7m

Documentary

Biography

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93%

60 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

50+ Ratings

Audience Score

KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME is a dazzling, worthy tribute to Vonnegut and a compelling introduction for the uninitiated. The feature documentary -- the first of its kind on Vonnegut -- is a deep, immersive dive into the author's upbringing and his creative output. It spans his childhood in Indianapolis, his experience as a Prisoner of War in World War II, his marriage, family, and divorce, his early careers as a publicist for General Electric and a car salesman, and his long years as a struggling writer, leading to eventual superstardom in 1969 following the publication of his lightning-bolt anti-war novel Slaughterhouse-Five. The film began 39 years ago when young, struggling filmmaker Robert Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth) wrote a letter to his literary idol proposing a documentary on Vonnegut's life and work. Shooting began in 1988 and the resulting film reflects the friendship and bond Weide and Vonnegut formed over the decades. In the film, past, present, and future cease to become linear as Weide strives to get an overview of his subject's life and his own role in it. KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME is first and foremost a biography of a beloved American author. But it also documents a filmmaker's odyssey as he examines the impact of a writer's legacy on his own life, extending far beyond the printed page.

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Critics Consensus

A fitting if not groundbreaking tribute, Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time will inspire viewers to seek out -- or revisit -- his work.

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Brian

A fantastic view of the life of Vonnegut. It was funny and touching.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/21

Full Review

Anig Z

A beautiful human! A must in these times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Renee D

So appreciated this documentary. It was very rewarding to experience such a deep and generous biography of Mr. Vonnegut.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Torin F

A multi-faceted portrait of a complex man, in which the biographer's own relationship to Vonnegut and his work are actually an important part of the story. UNSTUCK IN TIME celebrates Vonnegut's virtues (chiefly his humor as a powerful response to trauma, tragedy and loss) without omitting his flaws and the challenges he faced, both personal and professional.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/10/23

Full Review

Mike G

Not one mention of Harrison Bergeron. But so it goes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

bill g

Beautifully put together from what must have been hours and hours of footage, interviews and more. Poignant and inspiring. Now I want to read the Vonnegut books I missed and hope it will inspire others to read at least one. Well done Robert!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Robert B. Weide

Director

Don Argott

Director

Robert B. Weide

Self

Robert B. Weide

Writer

Robert B. Weide

Producer

Demian Fenton

Film Editor

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Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time: Trailer 1

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James Jackson

Times (UK)

Vonnegut remains such contradictory company. His harrowing observations of inhumanity, most famously in Slaughterhouse-Five’s first-hand descriptions of the bombing of Dresden, seemed to render him ever more goofy.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 26, 2023

Full Review

Ben Dowell

Times (UK)

[Weide's] thoughtful approach largely fits a subject where sadness, cynicism, laughter and optimism jostle fascinatingly together.

Apr 25, 2023

Full Review

Edward Porter

Times (UK)

It barely tries to assess the literary value of the author’s work, but it captures his good-humoured personality...

Aug 8, 2022

Full Review

Mark R. Leeper

Mark Leeper's Reviews

KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME, a biography of Kurt Vonnegut, has most of his early life told with home movies. Later the narrative is from photos of his articles, books, first pages of manuscripts, and footage shot by director Robert B. Weide and others.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 18, 2022

Full Review

Jennie Kermode

Eye for Film

A film full of intimacy and affection, of insight into the effort it takes to be both an artist and a human being.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 27, 2022

Full Review

Andy Lea

Daily Express (UK)

[A] touching, if slightly unfocused, account of the fascinating life of Slaughterhouse- Five writer Kurt Vonnegut.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 26, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME is a dazzling, worthy tribute to Vonnegut and a compelling introduction for the uninitiated. The feature documentary -- the first of its kind on Vonnegut -- is a deep, immersive dive into the author's upbringing and his creative output. It spans his childhood in Indianapolis, his experience as a Prisoner of War in World War II, his marriage, family, and divorce, his early careers as a publicist for General Electric and a car salesman, and his long years as a struggling writer, leading to eventual superstardom in 1969 following the publication of his lightning-bolt anti-war novel Slaughterhouse-Five. The film began 39 years ago when young, struggling filmmaker Robert Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth) wrote a letter to his literary idol proposing a documentary on Vonnegut's life and work. Shooting began in 1988 and the resulting film reflects the friendship and bond Weide and Vonnegut formed over the decades. In the film, past, present, and future cease to become linear as Weide strives to get an overview of his subject's life and his own role in it. KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME is first and foremost a biography of a beloved American author. But it also documents a filmmaker's odyssey as he examines the impact of a writer's legacy on his own life, extending far beyond the printed page.

Director: Robert B. Weide, Don Argott
Screenwriter: Robert B. Weide, Robert B. Weide
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: 9.14 Pictures, Whyaduck Productions
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 19, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.0K
Runtime: 2h 7m

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