Year: 1982
Language: English
Format: 16mm Colour
Runtime: 90 min
Director: Ron Mann
Producer: Ron Mann
Executive Producer: Murray Sweigman
Cinematographer: Robert Fresco
Editor: Peter Wintonick
Sound: David Joliat
Cast: Allen Ginsberg, Charles Bukowski, Tom Waits, Michael Ondaatje, William Burroughs, John Cage, Jim Carroll
Production Company: Sphinx Productions

Poetry in Motion, director Ron Mann’s second feature documentary, presents performances by twenty-five celebrated poets (selected from sixty-five who were filmed) and treats its subjects like pop-culture heros. With only momentary cuts to interviews, the filmreveals one great poet after another, building a firm thematic structure through skilful arrangement of the readings.

Emphasizing poetry as an oral art, Poetry in Motion charts a trend toward the use of performance skills, heavily accentuated rhythms, live music (from traditional jazz to punk rock) and song. Some of the poets were filmed in a studio setting, some in live performance before an audience, and some in their homes. All read from their own work and occasionally offer reflections on their art.

Poetry in Motion premiered at the 1982 Toronto Festival of Festivals (now the Toronto International Film Festival®).