BEAT

US, 2000, 93 minutes, Colour.
Courtney Love, Kiefer Sutherland, Ron Livingston, Norman Reedus, Kyle Secor, Sam Trammell.
Directed by Gary Walkow.

Beat is a brief film about William S. Burroughs and his wife and friends. It takes place over the period 1944 to 1951, opening and ending with Burroughs shooting his wife.

The film is only a glimpse of Burroughs and this period. The final captions indicate a long career for him as well as for poet Allen Ginsberg.

Kiefer Sutherland seems a strange choice for Burroughs. However, with his hat, monotone voice, he gives some indication and impersonation of the author (who can be seen in Gus Van Sant’s 1989 Drugstore Cowboy). Courtney Love is rather subdued as Burroughs’ wife. Ron Livingston is good as Allen Ginsberg. The other focus of attention is on United Press International journalist, Lucien Carr, played by Norman Reedus. Reedus was in love with Joan Vollmer Burroughs and was grieved at her death.

Burroughs was one of the key figures of the Beat generation along with Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac. (Kerouac and Neal Cassidy can be seen in Heartbeat.)

The group was heavily influenced by drugs. Burroughs says, in a quotation at the end, that the appalling realisation came to him that with the death of his wife, he actually was able to launch his literary career. He died at the age of eighty-three.

1.Audience knowledge about the Beat generation? Literature? Their way of life? Drugs? Sexuality? Freedoms? Their influence on the cultures of the 60s, the protests of the 70s and 80s? Their place in literature?

2.The film as a brief sketch of the central characters? How deep the characterisation, the dialogue, the interactions? The American settings, New York City, the Mexican settings? Musical score?

3.The title, the information at the beginning about the dictionary meanings of the word – and all their applications? The jazz score and its beat?

4.The opening and close with Burroughs aiming his gun at Joan? Her daring him? His killing her? Intentional? Accidental? The subsequent court cases, paying off the Mexican authorities? Burroughs’ freedom? Lucien Carr and his regrets?

5.1944, the group in New York City, Burroughs and his appearance, his hat, manner of speaking, relationship with Joan? His second wife? His relationships with men? His skill in writing? His advising people? The strength of his relationship with Joan?

6.The focus on Lucien Carr, Dave Kammerer and his infatuation? Pressures on Lucien, Lucien asking the advice of Ginsberg and Burroughs? His going to the shop with Dave, Dave’s advances, his idealising him, sexual approach? Lucien Carr killing him? Disposing of the body? His going to trial and his sentence?

7.The transition to Mexico? The household? Joan and her children? The background of Burroughs’ heroin charges and his going to Mexico? His own journey to Guatemala, his relationship with Lee? The homosexual relationship? Their being pictured on their trip? The aftermath, Joan and her comments and sarcasm to Lee? Joan at home? With the children? Lucien and his devotion, their drive to the ruins, the time together, Lucien’s approach? Her accepting it? Yet her devotion to her husband, his always coming back?

8.Lucien Carr, the aftermath of the killing – and the flashbacks? Establishing his life again? His friendship with Ginsberg? His love for Joan? The episodes together, the swimming in the river? The night on the mountain? His going back to New York, Ginsberg challenging him to propose to Joan? His return to work in New York?

9.Allen Ginsberg, his own literary skills, relationships? Friendships, advice? Sharing the experience with Lucien and Joan? His subsequent career?

10.The glimpse of other members of the group, in New York City, Jack Kerouac? Dave Kammerer and his oppressive presence? His death?

11.The film as presenting the early years of these characters? How much interest? How much insight?