Over time, what began as a study in artistic influence became a biographical portrait.
The film utilizes several techniques to create a biographical portrait of Jacques Derrida.
As such, this is less a full-length biographical portrait than an introduction, weaving stand-up patter with memories, some nostalgic, some bitter.
Needless to say, as in any biographical portrait, there are a few aspects of Arenas's life that don't make it to the film.
Although the film makes tentative gestures toward being a full-blown biographical portrait, it isn't that.
The book consists of previously published essays, most of which are biographical portraits of a specific historical figure or group of figures.
"Remington" is a biographical portrait of the Western artist Frederic Remington.
The third film is a critical biographical portrait of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta.
AS a biographical portrait, the book is a montage of stick figures that stand in for more complex people, and it lacks credibility.
She also uses them to underscore the difficulties of retrieving historical facts and the role that subjectivity can play in shaping a biographical portrait.