Readers and writers of poetry know that characteristics of the literary genre include imagery and economy of language. To her credit, filmmaker Sasha Waters does a respectable job of incorporating both into her documentary “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” (Kino Lorber/American Masters), a celebration of the life of the titular lesbian poet who passed in 2019.
A queer American poet whose renown matches that of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson (come on, you know she was!), the Ohio-born Oliver survived a difficult childhood (including sexual abuse), in which she learned to love the earth and seek comfort in dead poets (Shelley, Thoreau, Emerson, and, of course, Whitman). Eventually finding her way to Greenwich Village at a time when poetry and poetry readings were gaining popularity. It was in New York where she met and fell in love with Molly Cooke, who would become her partner for more than 40 years.
It was during their time together, spent mostly in Provincetown, that Mary came to prominence as a poet, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 for her book “American Primitive,” and the National Book Award in 1992 for “New and Selected Poems,” among several other honors. She also published her work in several magazines as well as in multiple poetry collections.
Mary and Molly’s story is portrayed as one of the great romances of the 20th century, queer or otherwise. In Provincetown, they established enduring friendships with John Waters and Norman Mailer (Mary made money by typing the manuscript for Mailer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Executioner’s Song”).
Sasha Waters, the doc’s director, bolsters her project with several interviews including a number with acclaimed poets such Mark Doty, Ada Limón, Major Jackson, David Keplinger, Donika Kelly, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Nick Flynn, as well as Oliver’s biographer Lindsay Whalen. But she doesn’t limit her resources and also features voices from outside of poetry with high profile names including John Waters, Maria Shriver, Oprah Winfrery, Stephen Colbert, queer musician Lucy Dacus, playwright V (FKA Eve Ensler). We also get to hear a few of Oliver’s poems ready by Colbert, Dacus, Winfrey, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, and musician Jesse Welles. As one of the standout interview subjects, John Waters provides the most entertaining insights into Oliver, regaling viewers with funny, and borderline outrageous, stories about his dear friend.
Rating: A-
