Garrison Keillor: The Man on the Radio in the Red Shoes

Filmed over the course of more than a year, Peter Rosen's documentary profile follows Garrison Keillor, the avuncular host of A Prairie Home Companion, as he takes his live variety show on the road. We see Keillor at work, preparing his material and genially juggling the myriad pieces that go into each program. As a storyteller, Keillor has built an entire imaginary world around the inhabitants of his fictional hometown, Lake Wobegon, along with the program's signature music, skits, mock commercials, and other bits of humor. Starting from a tiny audience of about a dozen people for his first broadcast in 1974, Keillor has performed every week for 35 years and now reaches four million people listening on 590 stations. (He's also the author of more than 20 books as well as a syndicated weekly column.) Perhaps Keillor connects with American audiences so well because he's imbued his imaginary community with bedrock American values, characters, and experiences. With its blend of seriousness and humor, fact and fiction, Keillor's work has been compared with that of America's past humorists and essayists, from H.L. Mencken and Mark Twain to James Thurber and Will Rogers. Those seeking a more revealing or personal side to Keillor won't find it here, but he does offer personal anecdotes that explain the development of his career without delving deeply into his private life. The film's soundtrack includes retro blues, country, bluegrass, jazz, and gospel music from Keillor's regular band and some frequent guests on Prairie Home Companion. DVD extras include an interview with Robert Altman and Keillor, a talk by Keillor to students, and outtakes. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (E. Hulse)