Sunlight Man

Sunlight Man is a feature-length personal documentary by Joel Gardner on growing up in the shadow of his father, bestselling novelist John Gardner. Jay Craven, in introducing the film at the Middlebury New Filmmakers’ Festival, said it was “…like a quilt” made of archival footage, contemporary interviews, super-8 home movies, audio from “All Things Considered,” snippets from the Dick Cavett Show, family snapshots –– all stitched together by Joel’s writing and narration.

John Gardner’s novels include Grendel, The Wreckage of Agathon, The Sunlight Dialogues, Nickel Mountain, October Light, and Mickelsson’s Ghosts. He also wrote books for children; a book-length epic poem, Jason & Medeia; and two well-regarded books on craft, The Art of Fiction, and On Becoming a Novelist.

Aside from the festival circuit, Sunlight Man has screened at colleges and universities. Let us know if you would like us to bring it to yours.