Never Apologize: A Personal Visit With Lindsay Anderson

Never Apologize: A Personal Visit With Lindsay Anderson is a riveting, heartfelt tribute to one of the most influential figures of British cinema - Lindsay Anderson. Released in 2007 and directed by Mike Kaplan, it stars esteemed actor Malcolm McDowell (who also directs) standing alone on a stage, passionately showcasing the brilliance of his longtime friend and director through anecdotes, clips from Anderson's films, discussions of his theatrical work, and performances of material they worked on together.

The documentary takes us on an intimate journey into the life and works of Anderson, who is best known as a film and theatre director, film critic and leading light of the Free Cinema movement in the United Kingdom. McDowell, who starred in Anderson's most famous film, If.... (1968), appeases both Anderson's fans and newcomers with his candid, congenial one-man show. The title Never Apologize derives from Lindsay's stubborn commandment, "Never apologize, never explain."

As director, McDowell replicates his 2004 stage presentation against a simple blue curtain backdrop, with archival footage woven into the narrative. Halifax-born McDowell recalls how the film If.... changed his life, it being a springboard to an international career and the beginning of his lifelong bond with Anderson. McDowell reveals that Anderson understood actors and knew how to cultivate their inherent contradictions, moulding malleable realities into profound narratives.

Malcolm McDowell bleeds charisma and charm as he shares his captivating stories and gives his impassioned performance. He also shares a blend of personal conversations, travel diaries, and various letters from Anderson, which renders the documentary as a warm and personal conversation, filled with humor and sharp insights. As you watch Never Apologize, you won't just gain a deeper appreciation of Lindsay Anderson's expertise, but you will also feel closer to the man McDowell fondly remembers as being 'prickly as a porcupine'.

Archival interviews with Anderson himself bring another layer to this tribute, a sense of self-analysis from a man who was passionate and controversial in equal measure. He was a catalyst for change in British Cinema and stood up for creative freedom against an industry that was bureaucratically restrictive. Archive film clips feature performances by many of those who worked with Anderson including Malcolm McDowell, Richard Harris, Alan Bates, and Rachel Roberts. McDowell also impersonates the stars he’s talking about, including Richard Harris and Bette Davis, which lends a sense of unmanufactured authenticity to the narrative.

The documentary also touches upon the struggles and controversy in Anderson's life, offering a portrait of his political beliefs, tireless creativity, and often tumultuous relationships in the entertaining but difficult world of cinema and theatre. It's a truly intimate view to see these shades of Anderson's personality, rarely discernible in his public life, revealed and celebrated by someone who knew him so well.

Never Apologize is a movie that evokes a poignant sense of nostalgia, and it humanizes Lindsay Anderson in a way that the public rarely got to see during his lifetime. McDowell paints a picture of Anderson that is at once sincere, funny, moving, and intense. The film very much reflects Anderson's own motto: cinema should be a "personal expression" and hold a "certain density of life".

Despite the unique format of being primarily a one-man show, Never Apologize is undeniably engaging. McDowell’s monologue, blended with screened footage, creates a compelling and rich tapestry of one of the most influential and controversial figures in British Cinema. From its evocative stories to its acute insights into filmmaking, it's an experience that's sure to fascinate anyone interested in film history, particularly British cinema.

In closing, Never Apologize: A Personal Visit With Lindsay Anderson is much more than a documentary. It is a love letter to a pioneer of cinema, an intimate memoir, and a fitting tribute to a man whose impactful contribution to cinema transcended his lifetime. Through McDowell's passionate narration and performances, viewers get to appreciate the depth and breadth of Anderson's work and the profound effect he had on everyone he worked with. It's a heartfelt exploration of storytelling, friendship, and the power of cinema.