Pee-wee as Himself

A chronicle of the life of artist and performer Paul Reubens and his alter ego Pee-wee Herman. Prior to his recent death, Reubens spoke in-depth about his creative influences, and the personal struggles he faced to persevere as an artist.

Beloved for nostalgic, avant garde programs like Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Pee-wee Herman became a lynchpin of American culture and a household name. Behind the scenes, artist Paul Reubens wanted control of Pee-wee’s fictional world as much as he wanted to dictate the public’s awareness of himself (or lack thereof). That divide backfired when scandal hit. Attempting to unearth the real Paul is the heart of this documentary, where revelations are equally vulnerable, candid, and sarcastically guarded. His earliest influences, performance art background, and complicated relationship with sexuality are aided by a trove of archival footage and never- before-seen personal photographs. Often sparring with off-screen director Matt Wolf, Reubens is a captivating and complex subject seeking to control his own story until the very end.—Drea Clark

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