Barbet Schroeder interviews Bukowski about such themes as alcohol, violence, and women, and he answers willingly, losing himself in sometimes minute-long monologues. Amongst other things, Bukowski leads the small camera team through his parents’ house and his former neighbourhood.

Barbet Schroeder meets a down-and-out Charles Bukowski in this captivating and colossal documentary portrait of the transgressive underground writer. Following their staggering 52 interviews, Schroeder would later rework this raw material into his loose, Mickey Rourke-starring biopic, Barfly!