Cultural depictions of Charles Bukowski

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"BUKOWSKI IN PICTURES", Edited and Introduced by Howard Sounes, cover: photograph by Gottfried Helnwein.
"BUKOWSKI IN PICTURES", Edited and Introduced by Howard Sounes, cover: photograph by Gottfried Helnwein.


Charles Bukowski, the prolific Los Angeles poet and novelist, has become something of an iconic figure. This article lists cultural references to Bukowski in various media.

[edit] Film

  • Bukowski (1973) - an hour-long video documentary produced by Taylor Hackford for the educational television-station KCET in Los Angeles (won the Silver Reel Award at the San Francisco Film Festival).
  • Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) - Ben Gazzara plays Charles Serking, a character loosely based on Bukowski's autobiographical character Henry Chinaski. The slow and stiffly acted film never found an audience, and Bukowski - though friendly with Gazzara - panned the actor's performance.
  • The film Barfly (1987) starring Mickey Rourke and written by Bukowski himself, was based on his life, the main character being his alter-ego, Henry Chinaski. His novel Hollywood was based on the tribulations of making this film.
  • The same year in which Barfly debuted (1987), the Belgian film Crazy Love, directed by Dominique Deruddere, was released. Based on the Bukowski story, The Copulating Mermaid of Venice, California, and portions of Ham on Rye, the film tells the story of a man's life by spotlighting three different nights spread over 20 years. Crazy Love was cited by Bukowski as his favorite film-adaptation of his work.
  • In 1988, French Director Patrick Bouchitey directed the short movie Lune Froide (English title: Cold Moon). The story is an interpretation of The Copulating Mermaid of Venice, California. It was then edited in a longer version in 1991, with the same title, but this time including parts taken from Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary Madness.
  • A documentary entitled Bukowski: Born Into This was released in American theaters on July 9, 2004, generally to good reviews[citation needed]. Actors Harry Dean Stanton and Sean Penn as well as musicians Tom Waits and Bono, friends and fans of Bukowski, appear in the film.
  • An adaptation of Bukowski's short-stories, " Social Dinner " was shot in Salonica, Greece 2004. It was directed by independent filmmaker Ektoras Agathocleous klein mein.
  • Factotum, an adaptation of Bukowski's second novel, was shot in Minnesota in 2004 and premiered 12 April 2005 at the Kosmorama film-festival in Trondheim, Norway. It was directed by Bent Hamer, and Matt Dillon plays the role of Henry Chinaski. The film opened in the U.S. on August 18, 2006 by IFC Films. Its soundtrack consists of 3 of Bukowski's poems adapted into song by the Norwegian singer/songwriter, Kristin Asbjørnsen. Asbjørnsen also composed the score to the film.
  • An adaptation of Bukowski's illustrated short-story, Bring Me Your Love, was shot in New York City in 2006. It was directed by independent filmmaker Gui Teixeira.
  • In an episode of Grounded for Life, Eddy mentions Bukowski.
  • In the movie Sideways, the main character Miles is dejected about his failed writing and quotes a line about stained sheets of excrement floating off into the sea, and when complimented for his witty style, he admits he is quoting Bukowski.
  • A short animated film entitled "Son of Satan" was based off of one of Bukowski's works.

[edit] Music

  • Canadian musician Buck 65 uses the Bukowski poem "a smile to remember" as the basis for the lyrics to "The Floor" (from Secret House Against the World).[1]
  • The punk band Hot Water Music took their name from the book by Charles Bukowski of the same name.
  • The punk band Thursday's album War All the Time was named after the book by Charles Bukowski of the same name.
  • The indie band The Good Life have Bukowski references in their work.
  • The indie band red tennis shoes is titled after the Bukowski poem by the same name.
  • The song Bukowski, by Modest Mouse, is dedicated to Bukowski, and references his works.
  • The song Green Corn, by NOFX, references the film Barfly.
  • The spoken-word song Nirvana, recorded by Tom Waits on the album Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, features lyrics adapted from a Charles Bukowski piece
  • Mentioned, among other writers, in the song "Mellowship Slinky in B Major" by Los Angeles band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
  • The indie band The Wonder Stuff released "A Great Drinker" in tribute to Charles Bukowski on the album Construction for the Modern Idiot.
  • The Pearl Jam song "In Hiding" was inspired by Charles Bukowski's writings.
  • The Apollo 440 song "Tears of the Gods" from the album "Electro Glide in Blue" features dialog from Bukowski's performance at Bellevue in a piece entitled "Soup, Cosmos, and Tears."
  • The British band 35 Seconds take their name from the Bukowski poem of the same title.
  • Mentioned in the Razorlight song "In the City" off the album Up all Night.
  • Mentioned in the 311 song "Feels So Good" off the album Music.
  • The song "Sway With Me" by Animals That Swim is a straight setting to music of Bukowski's poem of the same title. He is also mentioned in their song "New Boots".

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "a smile to remember" by Charles Bukowski. (Note the copyright belongs to Bukowski's widow, Linda Lee Bukowski, but the poem was written by Charles.)
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