The Pottery Maker
The Pottery Maker, a Robert J. Flaherty film, follows the life of a potter and his everyday trials. The film asks the question, "what wouldn't a man do to survive?"
Origins
After the release of his most famous work, Nanook of the North, Robert J. Flaherty ventured to the country of Laos in 1923. There, he met Nong Yao, a 56 year-old man at the time. Yao and Flaherty talked for weeks and became close friends before any filming began.
Filming
Flaherty did not begin filming until 1924, but when he began, he didn't stop filming for almost two months. He captured every aspect of Nong Yao's life, without any known exaggerations. Nong Yao was very responsive to Flaherty and his ideas, and was easier to work with than Allakariallak, star of Nanook of the North.
Release and Critic Response
The Pottery Maker was released in 1925, and Nong Yao was brought to the United States by Flaherty to see the premiere. Unfortunately, The Pottery Maker was a box office failure. Critically, the film was well-received, though not as praised as Nanook of the North.
Legacy
Today, The Pottery Maker has a small cult following, with the biggest fans watching the film repeatedly on June 12 (unofficially a National Pottery Day). Until Nong Yao's death in 1955, he and Flaherty remained good friends and corresponded regularly.