JIFF: How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer

The Story

Australian Premiere

“Mailer’s life and work are compellingly interwoven in this intimate documentary portrait that investigates the literary lion’s spectacular flaws, along with his passion for rigorously staking out unpopular positions.” - FilmForum.org

Norman Mailer, a towering figure in American literature, had a life that was certainly stranger than fiction, but the brash, swaggering persona he cultivated stood in stark opposition to his upbringing. Born in Brooklyn to a typical middle-class Jewish family, Mailer was accepted into Harvard at age 16 where he discovered his talent as a writer. Drafted into the army during WWII, his experience as an insecure rifleman would form the basis for his best-selling book, The Naked and the Dead. A tumultuous series of personal and professional events followed, including an involuntary commitment to Bellevue after stabbing his second wife, winning Pulitzer Prizes, and even an unsuccessful bid for Mayor of New York.

The first project with full access to Mailer’s family and their archive, the film unearths a treasure trove of never-before-seen recordings. An award-winning biography that vividly details the life and times of an American icon.

Festivals and Awards
Winner - Jury Prize Documentary Feature, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, 2024
Nominee - Grand Jury Prize U.S. Competition, DOC NYC, 2024

Rating

Unclassified 15+

Duration

101 min

Director

Jeff Zimbalist