Speaking with the Dead: Bill Schwarz on Preparing Stuart Hall’s Posthumous Memoir

When the world-renowned cultural and political theorist Stuart Hall died in 2014, he left behind an unfinished 300,000-word memoir. In this interview with MEF Executive Director Sut Jhally, Bill Schwarz talks about the challenges of preparing the final published book, detailing his negotiations and conversations with the disembodied words of an author who cherished dialogue above all else.

Directed by —, Speaking with the Dead: Bill Schwarz on Preparing Stuart Hall’s Posthumous Memoir leans on a strong ensemble — Stuart Hall, Bill Schwarz — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2018.