In 1989, the iconic Beat writer William S. Burroughs created The Junky's Christmas, a short story that originally appeared in the collection Interzone and in the 1993 recording Sparse Ass Annie and Other Tales.
Following Burroughs’ reading on that occasion , it was adapted into a film from the same year (directed by Nick Donkin and Melodie McDaniel and produced by the great Francis Ford Coppola),
essentially claymation, but Burroughs appears in live-action footage
and the beginning (with a book – those haunting facial close-ups!) and
at the “banquet scene” at the end. It’s a small masterpiece read.brilliantly by a genius writer that I watch evety year around this time.
“The Junky’s Christmas” begins with William Burroughs, seated by a Christmas tree and fireplace, who takes down a book and with his unmistakeable voice reads us the sad story of Danny the Carwiper, a heroin addicted
hustler who
spends Christmas Day trying to score a fix, but finds the Christmas
spirit instead and discovers his last remains of selflessness and humanity despite his urgent physical predicament..
The black-and-white live action gives way to beautiful animation, showing
junk-sick Danny trying to break into a car. If you tend to associate
claymation with goofy features for kids, you quickly realize you’re in a
different element with this film. The earthiness of the materials
perfectly conveys the grit of the story. By the time Danny gives away
his hard-earned shot to a stranger suffering from kidney stones,
blunting the “algebra of need” with an unanticipated act of altruism.,
Christmas can be a bit of a downer and a dark time for many of us, but in this moving and magical piece of work Burroughs not only alludes to the festive period in a way that only this Beat bastion could, but also showcases the beating soul of his artistry. A timeless film that needs to be preserved and watched by future generations. Remember that tragically there are literally hundreds of people living this story right now. Watch and enjoy, then go dry your tears.
Merry Christmas / Nadolig lawen!
