Press & Reviews
“Esrick has crafted an affectionate portrait of a man whose eclectic, ebullient life has been devoted to peace, love, and understanding—an eternal hippie who has ‘walked the walk’ since he burst onto the Greenwhich Village ‘Beat’ scene in the late 1950s.”
– Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
“Wonderful...a moving tribute to a man who today lives his life at the service of others. Everyone at my film festival loved this movie!”
– Michael Moore
“The sweet inspiring film captures the full glory of Wavy’s lifelong loopiness, but the real message is that Wavy Gravy has never been a clown.”
– Rolling Stone Magazine
“Anyone who doesn’t leave the theater feeling more empowered, compassionate, and ready to face life in all it’s upheaval ought to see a doctor—or seek a clown—for help.”
“This documentary captures his playful spirit and reaffirms the energy that drives his soul. ”
– San Francisco Chronicle
“Perfectly executed and hugely entertaining.”
– IndieWire
“Plenty to enjoy in director Michelle Esrick’s well-crafted package.”
– Variety
“The film is filled with clown-car-loads of laughter but there also are surprising moments of steady, deep emotion.”
– Berkeley Daily Planet
“Ms. Esrick has opened a window onto his world that should send you out of the theater on air.”
–TrustMovies.com
“Upon watching this documentary I literally felt all my cynicism and doubt and frustration just draining out of my body. Like I said, there is something Magical (with a capital M) about Wavy Gravy.”
–ChicagoNow.com
“Esrick has pulled off an extraordinary feat—not least in finding such telling archive footage and magically weaving out of it an evocative tale of the times.”
–David Tereshchuk, The Media Beat
“The film weaves together intimate verite footage, reflections from an array of cultural and countercultural peers, and never-before-seen archival footage to tell a story that is bigger than the man himself.”
–Dead.net
“Esrick's biographical survey is a tribute to idealism made manifest.”
–Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle