This Tuesday saw a very special one night only event, with Louis Theroux presenting The Amazing Johnathan Documentary. The preview screening of this year’s most eccentric doc was followed by a Q&A with Louis Theroux, director Ben Berman and a mystery guest, who joined Ben and Louis after asking a surprise question from the audience (no spoilers!). Audiences from 100 cinemas across the UK and Ireland tuned in to watch their enlightening and entertaining conversation, broadcast live from a full house screen at BFI Southbank.
Ben Berman’s first (or last?) doc has garnered extremely enthusiastic feedback and engagement, with more than 100 viewers asking Ben and Louis questions on Twitter (including the classic “did Ben really take meth?”).
After Johnathan is diagnosed with a terminal heart condition and given one year to live, he’s forced to retire his act. Cut to three years later: Johnathan is not dead, much to everyone’s amazement, and documentarian Ben Berman films the illusionist on an epic comeback tour. But as their mutual journey kicks off, Johnathan drops a bombshell that sends the film spiralling into uncertainty.
Take a look at some of the photos and audience reactions from the event below, and don’t miss your chance to experience all the magic, meth & mayhem by catching The Amazing Johnathan Documentary in cinemas and on demand from 22 November.
Shout out to @LipsBerman’s Dad 🙌🏽 #TAJDLive #BestSupportingDad pic.twitter.com/DEXbFctjEl
— Dogwoof (@Dogwoof) November 19, 2019
Just seen #TheAmazingJohnathanDocumentary with Q&A by @LouisTheroux and director @LipsBerman . Fantastic film on meth smoking dieing magician - absurdly funny at times it questions the vampirical ethics of doc making whilst holding a mirror to it's own directors motives @Dogwoof pic.twitter.com/xnsqZ2v8pl
— Bolton Film Festival (@BoltonFilmFest) November 19, 2019
Saw, and highly recommend, #TheAmazingJohnathanDoc last night at this screening and live Q&A with @LipsBerman, @simonlchinn and @louistheroux. Standout moment for me in the doc:@LipsBerman: "...and the three documentaries—"@theamazingj: *barely concealed smile* "Four." https://t.co/L7q0XMiph0
— David P Hunt (@d_p_hunt) November 20, 2019
. @louistheroux and @LipsBerman digging down into @theamazingj documentary @BFI. My doco of the year, if not the decade... Read my interview tomorrow @SkyNews #TheAmazingJohnathan pic.twitter.com/GTaqLkR8Sm
— Bethany Minelle (@Bethanyminelle) November 20, 2019
Enjoyed all the twists and turns of The Amazing Johnathan doc, and also the twists of the Q&A with Louis Theroux, Ben Berman and ? (left out of the pic to prevent spoilers). pic.twitter.com/2Ehm6kVwiz
— David Morrison (@david_morrison) November 19, 2019