The Poetry Deal: A Film with Diane di Prima

HALF-HOUR DOCUMENTARY

AVAILABLE THROUGH WOMEN MAKE MOVIES AND PBS.ORG

Celebrating the life and legacy of one of the beat generation’s most remarkable poets.

An impressionistic documentary about legendary poet Diane di Prima, the Poet Laureate of San Francisco, The Poetry Deal opens a window looking back through more than 50 years of poetry, activism, and cultural change. Through di Prima's recorded readings, including a deeply moving reading of her unpublished poem "The Poetry Deal," and rare interviews with di Prima in her home, this short artful documentary explores the poet's body of work, motivations as a writer, and reflects on her relationship with her chosen art form. It is a brief but powerful look at the life of an influential yet often-overlooked poet. This is a unique portrait that also uses rare archival footage, impressionistic B&W film scenes, and powerful stories that bring di Prima to life.

The Poetry Deal features many poetry performances woven together with recorded archival performances, artful scenes filmed in Super8 and 16mm, and powerful stories told by di Prima’s friends and colleagues.

Interviews include acclaimed writers Michael McClure and Michelle Tea and rare book dealer Robert Wilson, who helped di Prima sell her first books.

“heroic in life and poetics”

The Poetry Deal is the only film documenting di Prima’s story firsthand. This is the only film that received di Prima’s approval for release before her death in 2020.

The Poetry Deal opens a window looking back through more than 50 years of poetry, activism, and cultural change, and provides a much-needed women’s perspective of the Beat Movement.

Her life epitomized values that are more relevant today than ever.