“ Exuberant…courses with energy, vitality and, of course, joy, revealing a fascinating portrait of an unsung artist ahead of his time and never past his prime. „

Indiewire

“ Big Joy is a film that not only makes the case of its subject’s talent but, even more importantly, is itself an expression of joy that James Broughton would love. „

Film Threat

“ James Broughton, the poet and avant-garde filmmaker who is the subject of Stephen Silha and Eric Slade’s documentary portrait was as much a personality as an artist. Broughton (1913-99) figured in several successive San Francisco scenes, exuding a playful pansexual enthusiasm that illuminated even as it transcended his work, which is excerpted throughout. „

J. Hoberman, New York Times

“ A life-affirming documentary. „

Stephen Holden, New York Times

“ A great documentary. „

Variety

“ A remarkable documentary. „

Cine Source

“ Exhilarating…What makes Broughton’s life and work so important in this moment of queer assimilationist triumph is that he was, as one person describes him, “an outsider’s outsider, under the underground,” on a quest for ways of being and finding “big joy” outside the confines of the status quo. „

Ernest Hardy, Village Voice

“ Charismatic and intensely creative…Big Joy captures [Broughton’s] oversize spirit. „

Village Voice

“ Big Joy” settles for Broughton’s life-long relationship with love. It works beautifully. „

Film.com

“ One of the [Frameline] festival’s showcase films…as fascinating as it is enriching. „

Examiner.com

“ Fascinating…a revealing portrait of a man who helped to broaden our ideas of what films could accomplish. „

The Hollywood Reporter

“ This film was a really BIG Joy, because it’s a nearly perfect documentary film. I highly recommend it. „

IndiePix

“ A visionary forerunner to the Beat Generation and the countercultural eruption of the 1960s, underground filmmaker and poet James Broughton (1913-99) is celebrated in this buoyant documentary portrait…an insightful survey of West Coast bohemia in the wake of World War II. „

Wall Street Journal

“ Big Joy is awash in humor, introspection, transformative journeys and unbridled sexuality. The movie is frequently hilarious, radiates happiness and is almost universally upbeat. See the exquisite Big Joy, and lose yourself in the beauty of James Broughton’s adventure. „

Slackerwood

“ Big Joy does its subject justice by eliciting the pure joy that unfettered artistic creation and sexuality can be at their best. Stephen Silha and Eric Slade’s portrait of an artist joins the ranks of top notch documentaries about pivotal artists that were around for the sexual revolution. „

Edge Magazine

“ A lovingly-crafted tribute to an influential man who clearly led an interesting and unconventional life, true to his remarkably brave and unique sense of self. „

Edge Magazine

“ Broughton was true to his own spirit, and devoted his life to marching at the sound of his own drum and inspiring others to do the same. „

Out Magazine

“ Frameline’s must-must-must-see film. „

Beyond Chron

“ LBGT Pick of Tribeca Film Festival. „

Time Out NY

“ A fascinating narrative journey.
„

d-Michael Cox, Edge Publications

“ Exhilarating…What makes Broughton’s life and work so important in this moment of queer assimilationist triumph is that he was, as one person describes him, “an outsider’s outsider, under the underground,” on a quest for ways of being and finding “big joy” outside the confines of the status quo. „

Ernest Hardy, Village Voice

“ James Broughton, the poet and avant-garde filmmaker who is the subject of Stephen Silha and Eric Slade’s documentary portrait was as much a personality as an artist. Broughton (1913-99) figured in several successive San Francisco scenes, exuding a playful pansexual enthusiasm that illuminated even as it transcended his work. „

J. Hoberman, New York Times

“ Timeless… Whether it’s his deceptively simple poetry or the emotional exuberance of some of his experimental short films, Broughton’s work seems as much of the present as it does of the past. „

Indiewire

“ The beloved fest, which opened last night, can only have one mascot–James Broughton, a figure so large and jubilant that he manages to eclipse all of the festival’s many, many characters. „

7X7 Magazine about Frameline 37

“ When in doubt, twirl.” There was a time when that sage advice, given by the late queer genius James Broughton, was actually subversive, an exhortation to burrow deeper in one’s queerness when faced with adversity. It’s now the type of statement likely to be uttered by some reality TV show nitwit on a shopping spree. Broughton, poet, filmmaker and Renaissance man, is the subject of the exhilarating documentary Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton, co-directed by Stephen Silha, Eric Slade, and Dawn Logsdon.

His life was larger than fiction. It spanned a poor-little-rich-boy childhood, the making of groundbreaking experimental films influenced by Cocteau and Maya Deren, being part of a late-’40s San Francisco arts movement that planted the seeds for the Beats. He had a tumultuous relationship with future film critic Pauline Kael (with whom he had a child), and he found the (much younger) love of his life at the age of 61, all while writing poems that captured his unabashed celebration of queerness. Beneath his resolutely upbeat public face, however, ran a deep current of depression and self-doubt.

The film captures it all via interviews with friends and colleagues, generous samples of home movies and photos, and gorgeous clips from Broughton’s own filmography. What makes Broughton’s life and work so important in this moment of queer assimilationist triumph is that he was, as one person describes him, “an outsider’s outsider, under the underground,” on a quest for ways of being and finding “big joy” outside the confines of the status quo. „

Ernest Hardy, Village Voice

“ James Broughton is ‘a Godfather of independent film. „

After Elton

“ A multigenerational ride through Bay Area bohemia. „

San Francisco Bay Guardian

“ Top Documentary Picks of Tribeca Film Festival „

Indiewire, Gay City News, Film School Rejects, Village Voice

“ For the sadly uninitiated, James ”Big Joy” Broughton was a marvelous man, way ahead of his time. By the 1930’s he had created some of the most entertaining experimental films you are ever likely to see, and he was a Beat Poet before Jack Kerouac found puberty. To top it off, his personal mantra of ”Follow your own weird!” was the heartbeat for a dozen social movements that had yet to find a name or a voice. This is a man you should know. Lots of fun; recommended. „

Video Tape Worm

“ After an illustrious career spanning over 40 years, 25 films, 10 plays, 15 books of poetry (with an international award in each field), this gentle but persistent subversive remains. as he has always been, one of the seminal figures of the American avant-garde film movement. If ours was a world of love, he would be one of its saints. Since it isn’t, he is the exuberant voice in the wilderness, gently yet firmly showing us ‘the way. „

Amos Vogel

“ Visually rapturous…an expertly crafted documentary imbued with its subject’s zest and restlessness „

Fandor.com

“ The film is edited with great dexterity and illuminates the artistic and sexual ferment of a vital period in recent American history.
„

Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter

“ What an appropriately titled movie! Not only a moniker used by James Broughton
to introduce and identify himself late in his always interesting life, ‘Big Joy’ also aptly evokes the effervescent tone and quick-whip pace that this generous documentary utilizes to splash onto the big screen with unabashed abandon. From the bubbly, light-hearted original score and thoughtful editing to the pure appreciation and love that is both lyrically and ingenuously expressed by a number of friends, family members, and colleagues of James in talking head interviews, Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton takes you on a fantastically uplifting journey through the post-World War II San Francisco underground poetry and avant-garde film renaissance in context of one its most poignantly remembered pioneers and important iconic players. „

-Cinelinx

“ An excellent primer lesson on one of the most inspirational gay voices of the twentieth century. „

The Advocate

“ A lovely valentine to a countercultural figure whose sense of joy and adventure will win you over. „

SF Chronicle

“ I don’t know what to say about the film but it makes me happy. There is something about Broughton’s life and the way he attacked it that brings a big ass smile to my face. I love that he kept plugging away trying to find his joy- whatever or whereever that was.

If you haven’t seen this film you need to. The feeling of absolute happiness that this film creates can’t be beat. This is the wonderful story of a life that constantly moved forward searching for the joy in things. It’s a life that could be used as an object lesson for all of us who are looking to do something similar. There is no reason to give up hope joy can be found…just watch the film and you’ll see. „

Steve Kopan, Unseen Films