Hal

Although Hal Ashby directed a remarkable string of acclaimed, widely admired classics throughout the 1970s - Harold and Maude, The Last Detail, Shampoo, Coming Home, Being There - he’s often overlooked amid the crowd of luminaries from his generation. Amy Scott’s exuberant portrait - drawn from rare archival materials, interviews, personal letters, and audio recordings - explores that curious oversight, revealing a passionate, obsessive artist. Having hitchhiked to LA, Ashby eventually landed in the editing room, where a chance encounter with Norman Jewison brought his big break (and a lifelong friendship). Ashby’s subsequent films were guided by compassion and deep engagement with social justice, class, and race. (Sundance Film Festival)