In the 1980s, ‘Z Channel’ was a trailblazing TV station that reached an obsessive audience who were ravenous for movie experiences beyond the limitations of mainstream cinema. ‘Z Channel’, known simply as ‘Z’ to its fans, gave a home to previously neglected indie, classic and arthouse movies, as well as providing a platform for unseen directors cuts and uniquely themed on-air film festivals.
Xan Cassavetes’ compelling and poignant documentary celebrates the historic influence of ‘Z’ and chronicles the brilliant but troubled life of Jerry Harvey, the visionary programmer behind ‘Z’ and friend and champion to now legendary filmmakers and works. Harvey’s determined, diverse and encyclopedic knowledge of film meant that ‘Z’ was a channel impossible to replicate today and its tumultuous existence became indistinguishable from his tormented emotional spiral.
Among those sharing their thoughts and memories of this maverick cinematic icon and his life-long infatuation are Robert Altman, James Woods, Quentin Tarantino, Jim Jarmusch, Alexander Payne, Paul Verhoeven, Vilmos Zsigmond and film critic and colleague F.X. Feeney.
With clips from such classics as the uncut “1900”, “Das Boot”, “Heaven’s Gate”, “Pat Garret & Billy The Kid”, “The Leopard”, Stuart Cooper’s masterful “Overlord”, “Paths of Glory”, “The Sicilian”, “The Empire Strikes Back” and Sam Peckinpah’s immortal “The Wild Bunch”, ‘Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession” is an intoxicating portrait of what it truly means to be a devoted disciple of film.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary with Director Xan Cassavetes and crew
Z Magazine Photo Gallery
‘On The Film Scene’ with critic Charles Champlin
30 minute Radio Interview with Jerry Harvey
AFI Tribute to Z with panelists Oliver Stone & James Woods
Special commemorative reproduction of the “Z Channel Magazine”
