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SXSW capsule review: ‘Saint Misbehavin’: The Wavy Gravy Movie’

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By Charles Ealy | Thursday, March 12, 2009, 12:13 PM

It seems like a simple concept, trying to do good in the world. That’s been the mantra of Hugh Romney, the Beat Generation poet who went on to become the master of ceremonies at the Woodstock Festival and later a peace activist, changing his name to Wavy Gravy.

Today, Gravy putters around his Berkeley, Calif., commune, where he has lived for more than 40 years. And he still engages in humanitarian efforts, hosting music fundraisers to help causes such as bringing cataract surgery to people in poverty-stricken areas of Southwest Asia.

But most of the new documentary from director Michelle Esrick follows his lifetime journey — his early days with Bob Dylan, his later days with Ken Kesey on the Electric Kool-Aid bus, his protests against the Vietnam War, his founding of the Hog Farm commune and his transition from a merry prankster to a court fool to a clown. (Wavy says he started dressing like a clown in part because policemen tend not to beat up protesters who are dressed that way.)

Austin is probably one of the best places for this world premiere. Gravy would be right at home here if he ever left Berkeley, which is unlikely. He’s the closest thing to a saint that I’ll ever meet. You may, of course, think that I must be hanging around a bunch of heathens. Go see the movie and judge for yourself.

Screening: 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Alamo South; 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Austin Convention Center; 6:45 p.m. March 21, Austin Convention Center.

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