CANNES 21: Val Kilmer Stars in Val, a Heart-Wrenching Soul-Souring Documentary Film

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival there’s a surprise that’s a delight – a documentary out of competition about American movie star Val Kilmer, much of which he filmed himself during his life; and in which he stars bravely.

It is a raw and emotional journey watching the film. You’ll feel that you’ve befriended Val as he takes us on the rollercoaster ride of his personal and professional life. And whatever you may have thought of his Hollywood star ego, you realise his huge immense lightness of being. That although he has lived through darkness – a brother’s death, his own illness and loss of his ability to talk clearly, he somehow has an ability to clown around, and to lift the darkness like a kite into the sky.

Val’s own son – Jack Kilmer – narrates for his father where his father’s own voice is too difficult to understand. It’s heart-wrenching and yet uplifting, with an inside view on Val’s very personal life, his love, his divorce, starring with Tom Cruise in Top Gun, his relationship with his mom and dad, how he turned down his role as the joker the second time because The Saint offered him so much more versatility as an actor. Plus there’s a humorous clip with Sean Penn and a couple of other big stars.

The Val Kilmer we knew and loved is barely recognisable physically in this film… but his soul soars.