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Being Elmo

Being Elmo

Documentary

The Muppet Elmo is one of the most beloved characters among children across the globe. Meet the unlikely man behind the puppet - the heart and soul of Elmo - Kevin Clash.

More information on this production is available at www.beingelmo.com.

The critical consensus

There’s a tragedy in which Clash sacrifices his personal life for his job, admittedly his dream job, and it’s something which Marks could draw out further in this sweet and tender account of life as an unsigned yet international entertainer.

***(*)(*)Andrew Latimer, TV Bomb, 15/04/2012

2012 is the year of the Muppet, and we don’t mean Ashton Kutcher. After Jason Segel’s fur-filled revival, rejoice in a documentary to make you laugh and, yes, cry.

****(*)Jamie Graham, Total Film, 16/04/2012

It’s a charming celebration of a devoted, talented creator getting the love he deserves.

***(*)(*)Hannah McGill, The List, 17/04/2012

Like Elmo, it is ridiculously sweet, sprightly and warm.

****(*)Siobhan Synnot, The Scotsman, 22/04/2012

A charming, if occasionally surface-deep look at the man behind the fur. Elmo like!

***(*)(*)Kim Newman, Empire Online, 22/04/2012

As Marks' film shows, a lot of work goes into being Elmo and Clash, for all his easygoing nature, takes his responsibilities very seriously.

****(*)Alison Rowat, The Herald, 26/04/2012

The focus of Being Elmo is a can’t-believe-his-luck nice guy who’s warm, funny and a touch bland. A bit like Elmo.

David Edwards, Daily Record, 27/04/2012

The film passes a little lightly over Clash's personal life; despite the title, we don't dwell on his immersion in Elmo's personality – and those hoping to find something dysfunctional about his closeness to the Elmo persona will be disappointed. He simply seems to be a good guy who created something that little children love. Fair enough.

***(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 26/04/2012

Slight, but an uplifting, universal rallying call for creative people to follow their dreams.

****(*)Ashley Clark, Little White Lies, 26/04/2012

Constance Marks's delightful, unpretentious documentary both captures the man in all his complex simplicity and throws light on his craft.

Philip French, The Observer, 29/04/2012

A sweet, engaging documentary, Being Elmo largely steers clear of Clash’s personal life to offer a wholesome portrait of a man who has dedicated himself to the thing he loved.

***(*)(*)Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 27/04/2012

It’s most fascinating when tracing Clash’s early life as a low-income Baltimore kid who went from entertaining the neighbourhood children with his home-made puppets to a career on national TV, but there are nice little insights into the workings of the Muppet workshops too.

***(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 10/05/2012


Features about Being Elmo

Constance Marks, director of puppet doc Being Elmo--interview

Hannah McGill, The List, 25/04/2012

Kevin Clash: 'Elmo is basically just a child--with a Muppet edge'

Oliver Laughland, The Guardian, 26/04/2012

Being Elmo: How a documentary about puppeteer brought adults to tears

Alice Wyllie, The Scotsman, 01/05/2012

Where and when?

Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Monday May 7, 2012, until Wednesday May 9, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/

macrobert, Stirling from Tuesday May 22, 2012, until Thursday May 24, 2012. No screening on the 23rd.. More info: www.macrobert.org

Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday June 15, 2012, until Monday June 18, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com

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