Guido Santi

Nicholas Vreeland walked away from a worldly life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Grandson of legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland and apprentice of photographer Irving Penn, Nicholas' life changed drastically upon meeting one of the Dalai Lama's teachers. Soon thereafter, he gave up his glamorous life to live in a monastery in India, ultimately returning to his roots in photography to help his fellow monks rebuild their monastery.

A revealing documentary that explores the vibrant life, work, and flamboyant personality of portrait artist Don Bachardy, focusing on his lifelong romantic partnership with novelist Christopher Isherwood. From their Santa Monica home, Bachardy spills vivid details on his sitters: how he got to touch Ginger Rogers' face, how Henry Fonda—who famously hated queers—eventually came around to pose for him, and how Governor Jerry Brown actually sat for his portrait 40 years ago, unlike Ronnie and Arnold. Bachardy's unique philosophy allows him to enter his sitters' lives, discern their personalities, and see straight into their souls. Yet, the emotional core and pinnacle of the documentary is his profound bond with Isherwood. During Isherwood's final six months, as he lay bedridden and dying right in front of him, Bachardy produced 448 black-paint portraits. Explaining that his paintbrush was in mourning, Bachardy offers a breathtaking, devastatingly pure expression of love and loss.

Chris & Don chronicles the lifelong relationship between author Christopher Isherwood and his much younger lover, artist Don Bachardy, and it combines present-day interviews, archival footage shot by the couple from the 1950s, excerpts from Isherwood's diaries, and playful animations to recount their romance.

In an era when voices are silenced worldwide, one Muslim scholar in America risks everything to defend free thought, pluralism, and the right to speak out.

Nicholas Vreeland walked away from a worldly life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Grandson of legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland and apprentice of photographer Irving Penn, Nicholas' life changed drastically upon meeting one of the Dalai Lama's teachers. Soon thereafter, he gave up his glamorous life to live in a monastery in India, ultimately returning to his roots in photography to help his fellow monks rebuild their monastery.

Nicholas Vreeland walked away from a worldly life of privilege to become a Tibetan Buddhist monk. Grandson of legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland and apprentice of photographer Irving Penn, Nicholas' life changed drastically upon meeting one of the Dalai Lama's teachers. Soon thereafter, he gave up his glamorous life to live in a monastery in India, ultimately returning to his roots in photography to help his fellow monks rebuild their monastery.

A revealing documentary that explores the vibrant life, work, and flamboyant personality of portrait artist Don Bachardy, focusing on his lifelong romantic partnership with novelist Christopher Isherwood. From their Santa Monica home, Bachardy spills vivid details on his sitters: how he got to touch Ginger Rogers' face, how Henry Fonda—who famously hated queers—eventually came around to pose for him, and how Governor Jerry Brown actually sat for his portrait 40 years ago, unlike Ronnie and Arnold. Bachardy's unique philosophy allows him to enter his sitters' lives, discern their personalities, and see straight into their souls. Yet, the emotional core and pinnacle of the documentary is his profound bond with Isherwood. During Isherwood's final six months, as he lay bedridden and dying right in front of him, Bachardy produced 448 black-paint portraits. Explaining that his paintbrush was in mourning, Bachardy offers a breathtaking, devastatingly pure expression of love and loss.

A revealing documentary that explores the vibrant life, work, and flamboyant personality of portrait artist Don Bachardy, focusing on his lifelong romantic partnership with novelist Christopher Isherwood. From their Santa Monica home, Bachardy spills vivid details on his sitters: how he got to touch Ginger Rogers' face, how Henry Fonda—who famously hated queers—eventually came around to pose for him, and how Governor Jerry Brown actually sat for his portrait 40 years ago, unlike Ronnie and Arnold. Bachardy's unique philosophy allows him to enter his sitters' lives, discern their personalities, and see straight into their souls. Yet, the emotional core and pinnacle of the documentary is his profound bond with Isherwood. During Isherwood's final six months, as he lay bedridden and dying right in front of him, Bachardy produced 448 black-paint portraits. Explaining that his paintbrush was in mourning, Bachardy offers a breathtaking, devastatingly pure expression of love and loss.

Chris & Don chronicles the lifelong relationship between author Christopher Isherwood and his much younger lover, artist Don Bachardy, and it combines present-day interviews, archival footage shot by the couple from the 1950s, excerpts from Isherwood's diaries, and playful animations to recount their romance.

In an era when voices are silenced worldwide, one Muslim scholar in America risks everything to defend free thought, pluralism, and the right to speak out.