Obscene - A Portrait of Barney Rosset and the Grove Press

Here's a fine documentary on Barney Rosset, one of the great American maverick publishers. This film follows the notorious history of The Evergreen Review and the Grove Press, two publications that fought against obscenity charges waged against 20th century classics like Lady Chatterley's Lover, Tropic of Cancer, Naked Lunch, along with numerous film scripts that challenged the censors (I Am Curious Yellow) and important tracts on civil rights.

The film also explores some of Rosset's friendships with writers like Samuel Beckett, and reflects the publisher's political activism. Grove published Malcolm X's autobiography at a time when Malcolm's own publisher (Doubleday) refused to publish. It also illustrates Rosset's ultimste failure to keep the Grove Press in operation.

A fine portrait of an individual with extraordinary courage and the fascinating works of literary arts associated with his publishing house. It is also a worthy examination of free speech in postwar America.