Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation
Directed by Lisa Immordino Vreeland
The brilliant work, personal struggles, and cultural impact of iconic American writers Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams explodes onto the screen in this innovative dual-portrait documentary. Filmmaker Lisa Immordino Vreeland masterfully collages a wealth of archival material, including dishy talk show appearances with Dick Cavett and David Frost, with clips from some of the duo’s most memorable movie adaptations: A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Glass Menagerie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and In Cold Blood. Featuring vibrant voiceover work by award-winning actors Jim Parsons (Capote) and Zachary Quinto (Williams), the film is dripping with wit and wisdom. It is a celebration of both men's fearless candor and often tumultuous friendship that honors how their identity as gay Southerners informed their timeless artistic achievements and relationships with family, colleagues, confidants, and – most significantly – each other.
Reviews
“An immersive portrait of literary icons, friends, and rivals… a creative way into the ubiquitous figures.”
“A fascinating account of a loving but troubled relationship… succeeds beautifully in providing a revealing look at their troubled psyches.”
“Takes their great talents as a given and happily refuses to sensationalize their struggles… the film succeeds in bringing these remarkable figures a bit closer to us.”
“A truly captivating and cleverly contrasting examination of two of the most significant writers of the last century.”
“The greatest service… is the attention it grants to the written words of Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.”
“A visually appealing mosaic of iconic photographs, television interviews, magazine articles, clippings and comments that combine to fully immerse us in the lives and loves of both men.”
Awards
Winner: Audience Award – OUTshine Film Festival (Miami)
Winner: Best LGBTQ Film – Key West Film Festival
Official Selection: Telluride Film Festival
Official Selection: Hamptons International Film Festival
Official Selection: NewFest: The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival
