Age: 67
male
Charles Stuart Kaufman (born November 19, 1958) is an American filmmaker and novelist. He wrote the films Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation (2002), and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004). He both wrote and directed the films Synecdoche, New York (2008), Anomalisa (2015), and I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020). In 2020, Kaufman made his literary debut with the release of his first novel, Antkind. One of the most celebrated screenwriters of his era, Kaufman has received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Independent Spirit Awards, and a Writers Guild of America Award. Film critic Roger Ebert called Synecdoche, New York "the best movie of the decade" in 2009. Three of Kaufman's scripts appear in the Writers Guild of America's list of the 101 greatest movie screenplays ever written.
It’s 1971, and David Gulpilil, an 18-year-old Aboriginal actor fresh off his cinematic debut in Walkabout, is taking his first steps into a world far removed from the Arnhem Land where he grew up. Touring across international cities, he’s bewildered by his sudden stardom and grappling with a culture that celebrates him as an icon yet is blind to the depths of his roots. Amid the whirlwind, he crosses paths with Bob Marley in a shared hotel lobby, drawn together by the mutual fascination of their heritages. David introduces Bob to the ancient tones of the didgeridoo, while Bob shares the spirituality of ganja. This chance encounter forms a bond between them, one that soon attracts other free spirits of the time, each of whom sees in David a unique connection to his journey: John Lennon, seeking purpose post-Beatles; Bruce Lee, a symbol of strength and Eastern philosophy; Marlon Brando, wrestling with Hollywood’s hypocrisy; and Jimi Hendrix, embodying the music and magic of rebellion.
