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The Source

19991h 28m5.6/ 10 · TMDB · 16 votes
DocumentaryHistory

Traces the Beats from Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac's meeting in 1944 at Columbia University to the deaths of Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs in 1997. Three actors provide dramatic interpretations of the work of these three writers, and the film chronicles their friendships, their arrival into American consciousness, their travels, frequent parodies, Kerouac's death, and Ginsberg's politicization. Their movement connects with bebop, John Cage's music, abstract expressionism, and living theater. In recent interviews, Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey, Ferlinghetti, Mailer, Jerry Garcia, Tom Hayden, Gary Snyder, Ed Sanders, and others measure the Beats' meaning and impact.

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Directed by Chuck Workman

Our screenings

A
Ansh Kapoor

No screenings recorded

Unwatched

The people behind the story

Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp

Jack Kerouac

Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper

William S. Burroughs

John Turturro
John Turturro

Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg

Self (archive footage)

William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs

Self (archive footage)

Philip Glass
Philip Glass

Self

Robert Creeley

Self

Ann Charters

Self

George Steade

Self

Where to watch

Streaming availability is not currently listed for India. Listings may be incomplete.

Last checked 9 Oct 2026.

Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB. Confirm availability with the service.

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Film details

Released23 Jan 1999
Original languageEnglish
CountriesUnited States of America
View on TMDB
David Amram
David Amram

Self

Ed Sanders
Ed Sanders

Self

Gregory Corso

Self