It does what it says on the tin

The blurb:

A David Lynch produced documentary about Robert Crumb, a cartoonist who is most famous for Zap Comix, 'keep on trckin' and Fritz the Cat (although he had nothing to do with the poorly animated film).

You know that saying about there being a fine line between being a genius and being insane: Robert Crumb is the finest example of proof that there is truth in the saying.

The film follows him around just before he decided to leave the United States and move himself and his family to the South of France.

Crumb speaks about his life growing up, and how he became a cartoonist. You get to see some rather candid interviews with his two brothers and some of the women in your life, as well as some insights by art experts who have followed his career.

One thing that is immediately apparent about Crumb is he not ordinary in anyway: his appearance, his views on life, his dress sense, his sanity. When you meet his two brothers you find that they are mentally unbalanced (one of the two of them being on medication, and is generally quite humorous).

It is clear that they, being the three Crumb brothers had an incredibly tough time growing up: an authoratarian father, who was ex-military; and a mother who developed an amphetamine habit when Crumb was about 8 years old. (you get a gimpse of his Mum, who clearly lost her faculties a long time ago, and sounds like a drunk from her slurred speech. She isn't overly coherent in whatever it is she chooses to discuss).

The three brothers shared the same bedroom until their late teens, which also may explain some of the 'issues' all of them have today.

Crumb's work, which I was aware of, but didn't know well, is absolute genius. He is an artist, his drawings go from cutesy cartoon characters to psychedelic life studies.

His comics were always a comment on the grotesqueness of ordinary american life. he also provides some disturbing insight into his sexual fantasies, which often shows his unabashed hatred for women.

He is totally against making money on his work. He has turned down loads of offers to sell-out, which he never took on. His drawing is essentially therapy for him ..... he does it for no other reason. He buys his house in France by swopping a pile of his drawings, no cash is exchanged in the purchase.

You don't have to be a fan of his work want to watch this film .... this really is a thought provoking portrait of a very complex individual who has managed to take his anger, frustration and mental issues out on his artwork. He could of easily ended up like the rest of his family.....