Shepard & Dark

An unusual friendship is profiled with insight and affection in Treva Wurmfeld's engaging documentary Shepard & Dark, in which playwright-actor Sam Shepard and his longtime pal Johnny Dark reminiscence while going through their voluminous decades-long correspondence prior to it being deposited in a university archive, whose curator believes the letters will be invaluable to researchers and perhaps even serve as the basis for a book. The men make an unlikely pair: while they do share a familial bond—Dark was married to the mother of Shepard's first wife—one has become a major voice in modern American theatre, while the other has been content to live a secluded life in a cluttered house in New Mexico. But the men hit it off from their first meeting, when Dark approached Shepard about one of the latter's early plays (which Dark found impenetrable). Shepard laughs freely here at his friend's observations—an atypical reaction from a man who usually comes across as stern and reserved. Combining ample epistolary excerpts with other archival material—including photos and film footage of the young Shepard (and his abusive, alcoholic father, who had such enormous influence on him)—and direct comments from each man, Wurmfeld manages to construct a touching portrait of a relationship that has witnessed both turmoil and warmth. Particularly for admirers of Shepard, who has rarely been so open about his past, Shepard & Dark will be of huge interest, but it also offers a charming profile of his “ordinary” pal, making for a wry, engaging commentary on the nature of friendship itself. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include additional interviews with co-subject Sam Shepard (18 min.), deleted scenes (7 min.), the “7 Things I Learned from You” photo gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine documentary.] (F. Swietek)