A Film by Melody C. Miller
Watching the documentary film, “ruth weiss: the beat goddess” you can’t help but fall in love with “ruth.” She is a contemporary of Kerouac, Ferlinghetti, Ginsberg, Burroughs, and others. Why is her name not familiar? You start to wonder why she has been a stranger all these years. The obvious answer is quite simple as “ruth” and the documentary will inform us. In the 1950’s women poets did not get published or given any attention. The film documents “ruth’s” life and work at the same time as it explores significant moments in social and literary movements beginning with the “beat generation.”
“ruth weiss: the beat goddess,“ is a well-made contemporary documentary, directed by Melody C. Miller introducing “ruth weiss,” her life’s work and sojourn. It is a biography and an exploration of the world “ruth” lived in from her birth in Germany, in the year 1928 to her death in California in 2020. The narrator of the film is “ruth weiss.” Her story. It appears that she was interviewed and also filmed reading and/or performing her work with a trio of musicians when she was in her late 80’s. She is seen in the film reading her poetry at a Women’s March in 2019 at the age of 91. ”ruth” is articulate and a great storyteller. People who know about her life add commentary and insight. “Herb Caen dubbed “ruth weiss” as ‘The Goddess of the Beat Generation.”
Watch the trailer:
“ruth” read her poetry with jazz musicians early on. “In the 1950’s, she organized the first poetry readings in North Beach cafes and bars providing a platform to many poets.” The documentary reveals that she was among the very first “beat poets” reading her work to Jazz. Casual friends, she and Jack Kerouac exchanged writing Haiku poems before he became famous with “On the Road.”
The documentary uses creative imagery to accompany some of her poetry visualizing historic moments in “ruth’s” life. It has animated recreations of past events done in an artistic style by Ketai Rivera an Bijiao Liu. Certain poems read by “ruth” are heard as a modern dancer performs interpretive, moving visual imagery. Music also brings to life the poetry, while “ruth” performs with a trio of jazz musicians in many scenes or reads voice over to music. In addition to the live video the film makes extensive use of archival photographs of “ruth” and events during her life. This story is entertaining and greatly informative. Anyone interested in poetry and the social impact of the “beat generation,” must watch this film.
Melody C. Miller directed, shot, and edited this documentary which has won numerous awards. Recently it received the 2020 Maverick Spirit Award from the Cinequest Film Festival given to influential individuals who embody the independent and innovative mindset. Previously awarded to Werner Herzog, Harrison Ford, Jackie Chan and many others.
“A beautiful and atmospheric celebration of a creative soul, ruth weiss: the beat goddess will be streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Tubi, Xumo, Plex, Google TV, Hulu, Kinema, Kanopy, and more from ruth weiss’ birthday on June 24, 2022, and available on PBS channels on August 28th, 2022. “
Happy Birthday “ruth weiss!”
Review by James R Martin, writer, documentary filmmaker.