Joe Gould's Secret (2000)

In the vibrant heart of Greenwich Village, around 1940, we find the paths of two unique individuals, both named Joe, converging in a captivating tale of eccentricity, friendship, and a shared passion for storytelling. Joe Mitchell, an esteemed staff writer for The New Yorker, encounters the other Joe Gould, an intriguing character and Harvard graduate, who is determinedly penning a gargantuan project - the Oral History of the World. This ambitious endeavor aims to document a staggering twenty thousand conversations Gould claims to have eavesdropped on, painting a breathtaking mosaic of human interactions. Mitchell, intrigued by Gould's peculiar personality and his compelling project, writes a piece about him in 1942, whimsically dubbing him "Professor Seagull." This catapults Gould into the limelight, earning him an unexpected celebrity status and an exclusive invitation to the Greenwich Village Ravens, a revered poetry club he had frequently, albeit uninvitedly, frequented. However, Gould's prickly temperament and his increasingly intrusive visits to Mitchell, which often extend into hours-long chats, strain their relationship. Despite their ensuing fallout, a thread of connection remains, weaving an intricate pattern until Gould's death. It is then that Mitchell unveils a secret, a revelation that serves as a poignant climax to their shared narrative. "Joe Gould's Secret" is a riveting exploration of two intertwined lives, set against the vibrant backdrop of 1940s New York, challenging our understanding of friendship, ambition, and the captivating power of stories.

Joe Gould's Secret is a drama movie featuring Ian Holm.

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