Hot Docs

Star Wars is so much more than just a movie—it’s a cultural phenomenon. Since its release and subsequent sequels and prequels, fans have reinterpreted the original films into needlepoint, nerdcore, puppet skits, and parodies. A participatory and democratic documentary devoted to the fans, The People vs. George Lucas assembles fan films, rants, and excerpts from the Star Wars Holiday Special to pose the timeless question: Who owns and controls a piece of art anyway? Does the Star Wars galaxy belong to George Lucas, its visionary author and copyright holder, or to the society that has embraced and expanded it? Appreciation, interpretation, and re-appropriation are crucial in keeping an artwork alive, but what happens when the creation becomes bigger than its creator? An entertaining look at the conflicted dynamic between George Lucas and his fans that might best be compared to the rise and fall of his very own character, Anakin Skywalker. - Angie Driscoll

Co-presented with Toronto After Dark Film Festival.