“Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin”

(USA)

Streamed from the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival (8/10), reviewed on Metacritic (8/10) and Rotten Tomatoes (****)

Director Arwen Curry’s superbly crafted documentary about science fiction/fantasy author Ursula K. Le Guin provides an excellent overview of her life, writing and visionary outlook and how they all integrated to create an impressively prolific and inventive body of work. Through numerous insightful interviews with the author prior to her death, as well as incisive commentary from her family and an array of noteworthy fellow authors, viewers are given a comprehensive look at her groundbreaking repertoire. The film chronicles her evolution both as a writer and as a thought leader, one who ultimately had subtle but considerable impact in helping to shape public opinion on a variety of topics while simultaneously enabling aspiring authors to experiment in an art form often restricted by convention and a publishing industry obsessed with profit motives. The narrative is also beautifully enhanced by a wealth of gorgeous animation, enlivening Le Guin’s material in ways that mere words cannot. This is must-see viewing for devotees of the author and an excellent introduction to the works of an author whose substantial following could always use more followers of her thoughtful poetry and prose.