Screenings: March 8, 5pm (Cam 12), March 9, 2:45pm (Cam 12)
“Karl Rove, I Love You” is two things: a shallow overview of Karl Rove’s perfidity and a hilariously surreal look at what might happen to a peace-loving, democratic actor who gets a little too into his role as Bush’s top adviser. Everyone in this film, from director Phil Leirness to star Dan Butler, plays themselves, and it’s shot in hand-held, up-close-and-personal documentary style. It starts out so thoroughly plausible that it’s tricky to remember it’s not actually a straight up documentary.
It all begins in early 2004 with Leirness’ idea to make a documentary about Butler, “the unknown supporting actor.” Leirness has to work hard to win Butler over, but eventually manages it — only to be swept up as Butler becomes obsessed with bringing the truth about Karl Rove to the uneducated public. Butler’s vehicle: a play. He works on it with friends, doing scads of research and even writing to Rove undercover. Soon, though, he’s so deeply into the role that he finds himself falling in love with the very man he despises. Clever and irreverent, this is a must-see for political satire fans looking for a new take on the genre.