Genre: Documentary
Release Year: 2011
Runtime: 127
Language: English (International)
Director: Matt Harlock
Plot: 15 years after his death, Bill Hicks is now more popular than ever, and is widely seen as one of the best comedian of the modern era. However, in America, where he challenged institutions and accepted ways of thinking, he suffered censorship and was never truly recognized by a wide audience. In the country which enshrines freedom of speech in its constitution his story is truly about what it means to be an American.
Now Bill’s remarkable story is brought to life in AMERICAN: THE BILL HICKS STORY, a feature-length documentary which combines live action with a stunning new animation technique manipulating 1,000s of photographs to uniquely immerse the audiences in his world, which is re-told from the point-of-view of the people who shared it with him.
Much more than a comedian, Bill Hicks has become an inspiration to millions. Developing a unique and fearless style that turned convention on it’s head, opening up new ways of thinking, Bill’s uncompromising approach met with conflict in America and it was instead on the international stage where he found fame. His early death in 1994 has not dimmed his timeless comedy, which still resonates today with ever growing numbers of people around the world.
Pushing documentary storytelling in a new direction, ‘AMERICAN’ uses a stunning new animation technique to bring the tale of one of modern culture’s most iconic heroes to the big screen.