Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak

This documentary is a tribute to 80 year old children's writer and illustrator, Maurice Sendak. We visit his home in Ridgefield, Connecticut where he still draws and writes with his beloved dog, Herman, beside him. I was troubled by his use of profanity in the documentary where this could be shown to younger audiences to understand one of their favorite authors. Anyway, I felt that Sendak didn't spend enough time about his books and life. I felt the director and camera man didn't focus in on his works and intertwined with his life. I didn't know he was gay nor that he had a longtime relationship with a man, Dr. Eugene Glynn, for over 50 years. I would have liked to have known more about their relationship but they didn't really inquire into it. He lives with Lynn, a female best friend, who takes care of him for the most part in his Connecticut home. I didn't realize how unhappy that a children's writer could be or that he didn't desire to be a father himself.

In 2003, Jonze and his frequent collaborator Lance Bangs began taping a series of interviews with the well over 80 years old Sendak at his home, listening (and sometimes prodding) as Sendak recalled his boyhood, his early career, the phenomena and controversies of "Wild Things" and "In The Night Kitchen", and what it was like to live as a gay man at a time when going public with his sexuality might've ended his career. Sendak is a natural performer in front of the camera, and a man of contradictions. This film is really insightful. If you like Mr. Sendak's work, you will truly enjoy this doc.

I knew absolutely zilch about this fella beforehand and 40mins later i feel i got to know what makes up the moments of this man's life and inner thoughts.

Brevity is indeed the soul of wit. Straight forward, straight talkin, no nonsense just a man talking about his life to his friend, the director, Spike with openness and honesty.