Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

A wistful, absorbing look at a cinephile's passion and self-destruction, blending archival clips with talking heads to evoke a lost era of television.

Directed by

Xan Cassavetes

Genres

History, Documentary

Starring

Quentin Tarantino, Robert Altman, Jim Jarmusch

Overview

A documentary on the Z Channel, one of the first pay cable stations in the US, and its programming chief, Jerry Harvey. Debuting in 1974, the LA-based channel's eclectic slate of movies became a prime example of the untapped power of cable television.

How it feels

Melancholic, dark, earnest and cynical. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Obsession, art, media, death

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)