Howl is a 2010 American independent drama film directed and written by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. The film is based on the poem "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg and stars James Franco as Ginsberg. The film is divided into three parts: the obscenity trial of the poem, an animated re-creation of the poem's debut reading at the Six Gallery in San Francisco, and an interview with Ginsberg conducted by a fictional journalist.
The film explores the themes of censorship, freedom of speech, and the counterculture movement of the 1950s. It also delves into Ginsberg's personal life and struggles as a gay man in a society that was not accepting of homosexuality. The film received positive reviews from critics and was praised for Franco's performance as Ginsberg.
Howl is a unique and thought-provoking film that offers a glimpse into the life and work of one of the most influential poets of the Beat Generation.