Thax (2007)

At fourteen, Thax received a mystical vision predicting a future as a renowned poet. By the time he’s gray, he’s performed thousands of times. Before each show, he delivers an impromptu poem to consecrate the stage. His white beard, round belly, and glasses give him the look of a rock and roll holy man, a shaman from a time when independent music felt deeply meaningful. But Thax is weary of this image. He feels unseen. Like a performer removing a mask, he reveals his true story, regardless of whether we want to hear it. The result is more bizarre than reality. This film explores the blurred boundaries between underground and mainstream, poetry and commerce, fantasy and truth, and success and fame. Like *CRUMB*, *AMERICAN MOVIE*, *BURDEN OF DREAMS*, and *GREY GARDENS*, *THAX* examines the price of being an individual.