Myles’s emergence into the mainstream has been accompanied by their shrugging attitude toward accolades and fêted celebration. They came to New York in 1974 to “become a poet,” in their own words. But, in their 1991 poem ‘Peanut Butter’ they declared: “I am absolutely in opposition / to all kinds of / goals.” It is this principled commitment that has surely marked Myles out in an age of fake news and changeability.

Speaking about her candid profile of the prolific writer, McMullan observes: “Poetry and cinema often share this similar concern—how do you capture a moment as it happens? I wanted this film to reflect that voice of Eileen’s work through our observation of them moving about their neighbourhood on the Lower East Side. There’s no dawdling around Eileen—they move quickly and decisively, driven by a mind voraciously taking in the world around them.”

Produced by: NOWNESS.