Big Sur Movie

Based on the 1962 novel by American literary icon Jack Kerouac, BIG SUR recounts the events surround

Description

BIG SUR recounts the events surrounding Kerouac's three brief sojourns to a cabin in Bixby Canyon, Big Sur, owned by Kerouac's friend and fellow Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. The story departs from Kerouac's previous fictionalized autobiographical series in that the self-inspired character is shown as a popular, published author; Kerouac's previous works are restricted to depicting Kerouac's days as a bohemian traveler.

The movie depicts Kerouac's mental and physical deterioration. Kerouac is unable to cope with a suddenly demanding public, and is battling with advanced alcoholism. He seeks respite first in solitude in the Big Sur cabin, then in a relationship with Billie, the mistress of his longtime friend Neal Cassady. Kerouac initially finds solace in the Big Sur wilderness, but is driven by loneliness to return to the city, and resumes drinking heavily.

Across Kerouac’s subsequent trips to Big Sur and interleaved lifestyle in San Francisco, he drunkenly embarrasses Neal by introducing Billie to Neal’s wife, cannot emotionally provide for the increasingly demanding Billie, and finds himself increasingly unable to integrate into suburban life. Kerouac's inner turmoil culminates in his nervous breakdown during his third journey to Big Sur, which serves as his farewell to the beat generation.