Searching for Mr. Rugoff is a 2019 documentary film about the eccentric and controversial independent movie distributor and exhibitor, Donald Rugoff. Directed by Ira Deutchman, the film delves into Rugoff's life and legacy through interviews with filmmakers, distributors, and moviegoers who knew him personally, along with archival footage and photographs.
Donald Rugoff was a transformative figure in the film industry during the 1960s and 1970s, when he helped bring foreign and art-house films to wider audiences in the United States. He started out as a theater owner in New York City, where he gained a reputation for programming avant-garde and experimental films that were not traditionally shown in mainstream cinemas. He later founded Cinema 5, a distribution company that specialized in bringing foreign films to American audiences, and went on to become one of the most influential movie exhibitors of his time.
Despite his success, Rugoff was known for his erratic behavior and controversial business practices. He had a contentious relationship with many of the filmmakers he worked with, and was notorious for making last-minute changes to film schedules and pulling movies from theaters without warning. He was also a master of marketing, coming up with innovative campaigns to promote his films and attract audiences.
The documentary explores Rugoff's life and career in detail, from his early days as a theater owner to his rise as a prominent distributor and exhibitor. It features interviews with a number of well-known filmmakers, including Robert Downey Sr., Paul Mazursky, and Philip Kaufman, who worked with Rugoff on various projects over the years. They discuss Rugoff's impact on the film industry and share their own personal anecdotes about their experiences with him.
In addition to these interviews, the film also features archival footage of Rugoff and his theaters, as well as clips from some of the films he distributed, such as Costa-Gavras's Z and Lindsay Anderson's If.... The documentary also touches on Rugoff's personal life, including his marriage to his wife, Anna, and his struggles with mental illness.
Overall, Searching for Mr. Rugoff is a fascinating and insightful documentary about an enigmatic figure in the film industry. It sheds light on Rugoff's contributions to cinema and the legacy he left behind, while also offering a glimpse into the world of independent film distribution and exhibition. Whether you're a fan of art-house cinema or simply curious about one of the more colorful characters in movie history, this documentary is definitely worth a watch.
Searching for Mr. Rugoff is a 2022 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 77.
