Details
A coming-of-(old)-age story about 83-year-old Peter Anton, an "outsider" artist living in isolated conditions whose world changes when two filmmakers discover his work and uncover his troubled past.
Filmmakers Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden stumbled onto the art of Peter Anton in Whiting, Indiana. The old man sat at a broken table, trying to convince people to let him draw a portrait of them, eventually he showed them several books full of his art, which impressed and intrigued them.
Later, they find him living in deplorable conditions, with a severe hoarding problem, bad health, and a lack of funds. Over time they form a friendship as they film him, leading to an exhibit for Anton at Intuit, a centre for unknown artists in Chicago.
However the attention causes a reporter to uncover a shocking story in Anton’s past. Feeling angry and betrayed, the filmmakers and gallery struggle with whether to proceed. Almost There explores the boundaries between artistic expression, elder care and documentary responsibility. It’s a tale of forgiveness and regret that exposes the dark side of a creative mind.