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Based on the 1962 novel by American literary icon Jack Kerouac,
Big Sur recounts the events surrounding
Kerouac's three brief sojourns to a cabin in Bixby Canyon, Big Sur,
owned by Kerouac's friend and fellow Beat poet Lawrence
Ferlinghetti. The story departs from Kerouac's previous
fictionalized autobiographical series in that the self- inspired
character is shown as a popular, published author; Kerouac's
previous works are restricted to depicting Kerouac's days as a
bohemian traveler.
The movie depicts Kerouac's mental and physical
deterioration. Kerouac is unable to cope with a suddenly demanding
public, and is battling with advanced alcoholism. He seeks respite
first in solitude in the Big Sur cabin, then in a relationship with
Billie, the mistress of his longtime friend Neal Cassady. Kerouac
initially finds solace in the Big Sur wilderness, but is driven by
loneliness to return to the city, and resumes drinking
heavily.
Across Kerouac's subsequent trips to Big Sur and
interleaved lifestyle in San Francisco, he drunkenly embarrasses
Neal by introducing Billie to Neal's wife, cannot emotionally
provide for the increasingly demanding Billie, and finds himself
increasingly unable to integrate into suburban life. Kerouac's
inner turmoil culminates in his nervous breakdown during his third
journey to Big Sur, which serves as his farewell to the beat
generation.