Müller's New 'Wunderkind' Documentary Champions Life & Work of Carson McCullers in Enthralling Detail

Last month, we were fortunate enough to be invited to attend the U.S. premiere of Claudia Müller's new documentary about Carson McCullers at the Paley Center for Media in New York.

What initially began as a quiet conversation over coffee, quickly transformed into two members of our team taking off on a whirlwind trip to document multiple arts & culture stories taking place between Atlanta and NYC in a five day period. Many of the events were tied to Columbus State University's College of the Arts programs (read one example of this here), but we also managed to fit in a few additional items of interest along the way including an interview with an artist from Columbus complete with a tour of his Brooklyn studio. (Look for that feature in Volume VI.)

Though we attended several other events, the crowning jewel and initial reason for our journey was to see the U.S. premiere of 'Wunderkind' at the Paley Center for Media. The event, which boasted a guest list of more than 400 people, began with a reception in the Center's main lobby before migrating into the theatre for the screening.

Nick Norwood, Director of the Carson McCullers Center for Writers & Musicians, addresses the audience for the U.S. premiere of Claudia Müller's 'Wunderkind' at the Paley Center for Media.

Guests were welcomed by Carson McCullers Center's director Nick Norwood, who discussed the Center's mission of preserving the legacy of Carson McCullers; nurturing writers and musicians, educating young people; and fostering literary, musical, artistic, and intellectual culture in the United States and abroad. Norwood's devotion to McCullers and her work shone as he thanked guests for attending the hallmark celebration, and explained how through the Center, McCullers' work reaches readers worldwide every year.

Columbus State University President Dr. Stuart Rayfield also welcomed guests and championed the McCullers Center as a tool for educational advancement, advocacy, and continued celebration of McCullers' life and work. She also thanked the Center's patrons and esteemed guests for attending the premiere.

Guests were then treated to a special screening of the film "A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud" which is based on the short story of the same name by Carson McCullers, was adapted for the screen & directed by Actor/Director Karen Allen, and stars Jeffrey DeMunn, James McMenamin & Jackson Smith. The film left audience members captivated by its depth and beautiful representation of McCullers' short story. Allen was in attendance and addressed the audience with passion as she expressed her love of McCullers and admiration of the Carson McCullers Center at Columbus State University.

Carson McCullers. Image courtesy of Columbus State University.

Then, came the premiere of Müller's new documentary 'Wunderkind' which enraptured the audience almost instantly with its rare footage of a video interview with McCullers never seen before by the public. This initial scene sets the tone for the entire film beautifully, as it catches the viewer off guard by inserting them directly into a conversation with McCullers herself.

'Wunderkind' holds within it a complex simplicity unearthed exquisitely by Müller's direct and honest approach to championing McCuller's life and work. By choosing to work exclusively with those who either knew McCullers personally or are today's most internationally-renown experts on her life, Müller's documentary produces a strikingly fresh view of her life as told through the eyes of those most impacted by her. What's more? Müller's choice to champion Columbus, Georgia's role as a key influence on McCuller's work led to the city being showcased beautifully on screen throughout the entire film.

'Wunderkind' is a must-see that takes viewers on an exciting journey through the life of McCullers and the development of her legacy by those who loved her most. Fans will love the film for its depth of knowledge and rich unveiling of the details of her life, however those new to McCullers' work will also find it fascinating.

All in all, our trip to attend the premier ended up fulfilling its promise of being an exceptional opportunity to document just a few of the many ways Columbus artists and initiatives are making waves far beyond the Chattahoochee River's banks. Columbus, Georgia is a city of the arts and what better way to illustrate that than to capture the stories shaping its legacy? We'll do it again, any time, any place. But we certainly appreciated the opportunity to be among those invited to document such a phenomenal series of events.

To learn more about the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians, click here.

For more information on the film and how to stream it at home, click here. 

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Special thanks to Columbus State University, the McCullers Center, and Schwob School of Music for inviting our publication to document these events. This content is presented in partnership with Columbus State University, but is not sponsored content. All opinions are those of The Columbusite and its staff. Questions? Contact us here.