Great Movies
"Mushroom Man," by Leslie Iwerks, tells us: "This is the story of how mushrooms can save the world! Renowned mycologist and mushroom pioneer Paul Stamets harnesses the power of infamous fungi to fight the planet's leading problems, from developing cures for cancer to destroying toxic radioactive waste."
There's a back story here. Bill Stamets, Paul's brother, has been a Chicago friend of mine for years. We always sit in the back row of the Lake Street Screening Room. He is a film critic for many outlets, often helping with Sun-Times festival coverage. He's a filmmaker, photographer, and very busy as a film teacher. He's always telling me about his brother Paul, the Mushroom Man. I've always imagined some post-hippie organic guru with plastic on the windows of his garage, selling mushrooms from a pickup at farmer's markets. Bill would say that wasn't quite the story with Paul. Chaz always sits closer to Bill, and listens better. She touted this film to me. Now that I've seen it, I realize: I've been sitting with the brother of a hope for the planet. RE
Mushroom Man | Leslie Iwerks from Focus Forward Films on Vimeo.
Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.
