This loving tribute to Gene Wilder celebrates his life and legacy as the comic genius behind an extraordinary string of film roles, from his first collaboration with Mel Brooks in The Producers, to the enigmatic title role in the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, to his inspired on-screen partnership with Richard Pryor in movies like Silver Streak. It is illustrated by a bevy of touching and hilarious clips and outtakes, never-before-seen home movies, narration from Wilder’s audiobook memoir, and interviews with a roster of brilliant friends and collaborators like Mel Brooks, Alan Alda, and Carol Kane. Remembering Gene Wilder shines a light on an essential performer, writer, director, and all-around mensch.
“People Pick: This funny, gently sentimental tribute is full of delightful clips, plus the occasional nutty detail.” – People Magazine
“[Wilder] was a man who could sell the premise of falling in love with a sheep, play an Orthodox rabbi in the Old West and toggle effortlessly from a soulful rendition of ‘Pure Imagination’ to the sheer insanity of a psychedelic boat ride down a chocolate river… He was sui generis. The marvel of the film is in how it makes you appreciate even some of his career lowlights.” – Forward
“Who doesn’t love Gene Wilder? Alongside the talking heads that show up, including Alan Alda, Mel Brooks, and Carol Kane, Wilder himself helps to narrate… By the end, when the friends are giving final tributes, you’ll feel like you’ve known him as long as they have.” – Awards Radar
“A uniformly affectionate look at the life and work of the comic actor… a portrait of a man whom everyone describes as gentle, innocent, kind, more or less saintly — and, of course, absolutely hilarious. The filmmakers made the smart choice to weave narration from the audiobook of Wilder’s memoir into the narrative, drawing the audience closer by giving the sense that we’re hearing the story straight from him.” – The New York Times
