Watch Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story

Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story is a 2012 documentary film about the life and work of children's book author and illustrator Tomi Ungerer. Directed by Brad Bernstein, the film features interviews with Ungerer himself as well as fellow writers and artists such as Maurice Sendak and Jules Feiffer. The film chronicles Ungerer's remarkable career, which spans more than six decades and includes over 140 books for children and adults. Born in Strasbourg, France in 1931, Ungerer grew up during the Nazi occupation of his hometown and later moved to New York City in the 1950s. He quickly established himself as an illustrator, creating advertisements and magazine covers for publications such as The New York Times and Esquire.

But it was Ungerer's children's books that brought him the most fame and recognition. In the 1950s and 60s, he wrote and illustrated a number of books that tackled serious subjects such as war and death, as well as lighter fare like The Three Robbers and Moon Man. His unique style and irreverent humor appealed to both children and adults, and he became one of the most popular and influential children's authors of his time.

However, Ungerer's success was not without controversy. In the late 1960s, he began to explore more adult themes in his work, including sexuality and political satire. Some of his books, such as Fornicon and The Party, were deemed too provocative and were banned in many parts of the world. Ungerer's outspoken political views also led to him being blacklisted in America, and he eventually moved back to Europe.

Despite these setbacks, Ungerer continued to create art and write books throughout his life. In the 1990s, he began to work more in sculpture and design, creating public artworks and even designing a poster for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In 2003, he published his memoirs, Still Alive, and continued to work on new projects until his death in 2019.

Far Out Isn't Far Enough is a fascinating look at the life and work of one of the most unique and provocative artists of the 20th century. The film combines archival footage with interviews with Ungerer and those who knew him best, painting a vivid picture of a man who refused to be limited by convention or censorship. It is a celebration of creativity, free expression, and the power of imagination to challenge and inspire us all.

Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 73.