'Bohemia: The Life of a New York City Poet' Movie Review

'Bohemia: The Life of a New York City Poet' Movie Review

Written by: Karen Benardello

(Originally Posted on Karen's Examiner page)


New York poets often become famous for showcasing the Bohemian lifestyle in their work and interacting with their audiences. Director Richard Ramson, who hails from Queens, New York, wants to remind people of that “unique lifestyle within the poetry community” and prove that poets from the city that never sleeps actually lived what they wrote. Ramson is re-releasing his 2009 documentary ‘Bohemia: The Life of a New York City Poet’ on DVD this month to reach more people who still love hearing poets perform their work.

The R. Media Inc. Film release features some of New York’s best undiscovered poets, who are all from different age groups and races. They share a variety of their poems that show what life is like in the Big Apple. New York was a perfect place to film ‘Bohemia,’ because as Ramson said, “The audiences (here) are wonderful. Also, the greatest performers have graced the stages here, so there is a competition factor and prestige involved.”

Ramson also interviewed the poets, who have a variety of experience, both in life and on stage. He said he felt compelled to tell the poets’ stories because he “saw a lot of people who started at open mic nights. I saw a bohemian lifestyle of writers in pain…and an underground lifestyle that was opposite of what was shown on ‘Def Poetry Jam.’ I saw real people from all lifestyles who had something to say.”

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