The Roth Explosion

A remarkably intimate portrait of the great American writer Philip Roth, whose books swing between solemnity and insane comedy. Roth was born in New Jersey in 1933, the son of Yiddish-speaking parents. He allows the internal contradictions of his life to become his subjects, exploring the impact of growing up in "a strictly Jewish milieu" within a broader America context. He talks about his attempts to escape (as in the controversial Portnoy’s Complaint) and discusses his resulting feelings of guilt. He speaks with candor about his relationship with actress Claire Bloom.