Factotum (film)
Encyclopedia
Factotum is a 2005 film directed by Bent Hamer
, adapted from the novel of the same name by Charles Bukowski
. The script also makes use of poems published in What Matters Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire and The Days Run Aways Like Horses Over the Hill as well as some of Bukowski's notebook entries published in The Captain Is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship
. For example, Matt Dillon reads the poem "Roll The Dice" (from the book What Matters Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire) in a voiceover
at the end of the film.
The film is principally a French-Norwegian co-production, although with an American cast. It was released in Norway in 2005 and distributed in the U.S. by IFC Films in 2006. It was released on DVD in the U.S. on 26 December 2006.
, who is widely known to be Bukowski’s alter ego
.
In the film, Chinaski (Matt Dillon
) is working toward becoming a writer and follows his own advice that "If you're going to try, go all the way." The film follows Chinaski's various jobs and relationships with women. The only constants in Chinaski's life (shown in repeated scenes throughout the film) seem to be drinking and writing. Chinaski has a more lasting relationship with one woman, Jan (Lili Taylor
), who is also a penurious alcoholic
. Henry parts with her after asserting that they no longer need each other. Chinaski meets and eventually breaks up with Laura, another barfly played by Marisa Tomei. He continues writing and, temporarily at least, ends up "alone with the gods". Although the novel takes place around 1944, the film has a contemporary setting.
Bent Hamer
Bent Hamer is a film director, writer and producer, born in Sandefjord, Norway in 1956.-Biography:Hamer studied film theory and literature at the University of Stockholm and the Stockholm Film School. In addition to his feature films, he has written and directed a number of short films and...
, adapted from the novel of the same name by Charles Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
. The script also makes use of poems published in What Matters Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire and The Days Run Aways Like Horses Over the Hill as well as some of Bukowski's notebook entries published in The Captain Is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship
The Captain Is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship
The Captain Is Out to Lunch and the Sailors Have Taken Over the Ship is a collection of extracts from the journals of Charles Bukowski, spanning 1991 to 1993. The book was first published in 1997 with illustrations by Robert Crumb...
. For example, Matt Dillon reads the poem "Roll The Dice" (from the book What Matters Is How Well You Walk Through the Fire) in a voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
at the end of the film.
The film is principally a French-Norwegian co-production, although with an American cast. It was released in Norway in 2005 and distributed in the U.S. by IFC Films in 2006. It was released on DVD in the U.S. on 26 December 2006.
Cast
- Matt DillonMatt DillonMatthew Raymond "Matt" Dillon is an American actor and film director. He began acting in the late 1970s, gaining fame as a teenage idol during the 1980s.- Early life :...
... Henry ChinaskiHenry ChinaskiHenry Charles "Hank" Chinaski is the semi-autobiographical protagonist of several works by the American writer Charles Bukowski. He appears in five of Bukowski's novels, a number of his short stories and poems, and the 1987 film Barfly. An author character, Chinaski's biography is largely based on... - Lili TaylorLili TaylorLili Anne Taylor is an American actress notable for her appearances in such award-winning indie films as Mystic Pizza, Say Anything..., Short Cuts and I Shot Andy Warhol, and the acclaimed TV show Six Feet Under....
... Jan - Marisa TomeiMarisa TomeiMarisa Tomei is an American stage, film and television actress. Following her work on As The World Turns, Tomei came to prominence as a supporting cast member on The Cosby Show spinoff A Different World in 1987...
... Laura - Adrienne ShellyAdrienne ShellyAdrienne Shelly , was an American actress, director and screenwriter. Making her name in independent films such as 1989's The Unbelievable Truth and 1990's Trust, Shelly transitioned to a writing and directing career in subsequent years...
... Jerry - Fisher StevensFisher StevensFisher Stevens is an American actor, director and producer. His most recent successes include the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film The Cove and 2008 Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature for his film Crazy Love...
... Manny - Karen YoungKaren Young (actress)Karen Young is an American actress.Born in Pequannock Township, New Jersey, Young studied at Rutgers University. After graduation she moved to New York City and became an actress, appearing in such films as 9½ Weeks, Jaws: The Revenge, Daylight, Mercy and Hoffa. Her ex-husband is Tom Noonan...
... Grace - Didier Flamand... Pierre
Plot
Bukowski's book, which is also titled Factotum, was published in 1975. The book centers on the character of Henry ChinaskiHenry Chinaski
Henry Charles "Hank" Chinaski is the semi-autobiographical protagonist of several works by the American writer Charles Bukowski. He appears in five of Bukowski's novels, a number of his short stories and poems, and the 1987 film Barfly. An author character, Chinaski's biography is largely based on...
, who is widely known to be Bukowski’s alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
.
In the film, Chinaski (Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon
Matthew Raymond "Matt" Dillon is an American actor and film director. He began acting in the late 1970s, gaining fame as a teenage idol during the 1980s.- Early life :...
) is working toward becoming a writer and follows his own advice that "If you're going to try, go all the way." The film follows Chinaski's various jobs and relationships with women. The only constants in Chinaski's life (shown in repeated scenes throughout the film) seem to be drinking and writing. Chinaski has a more lasting relationship with one woman, Jan (Lili Taylor
Lili Taylor
Lili Anne Taylor is an American actress notable for her appearances in such award-winning indie films as Mystic Pizza, Say Anything..., Short Cuts and I Shot Andy Warhol, and the acclaimed TV show Six Feet Under....
), who is also a penurious alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
. Henry parts with her after asserting that they no longer need each other. Chinaski meets and eventually breaks up with Laura, another barfly played by Marisa Tomei. He continues writing and, temporarily at least, ends up "alone with the gods". Although the novel takes place around 1944, the film has a contemporary setting.