Richard Burton possessed a charisma that could make even mundane text captivating; however, when tasked with delivering the words of Dylan Thomas or Malcolm Lowry, it became truly remarkable. This holds true because without that inherent quality, the film portrays what is ultimately a disheartening account of Malcolm Lowry’s life, the writer behind ''Under the Volcano''. Born into a comfortable Liverpudlian family, he lacked for nothing, but like many in similar circumstances, he experienced profound boredom. Early on, he joined a freighter as a cabin boy and began developing his relationship with alcohol. Returning to England and attending Cambridge brought its own challenges, including grappling with questions about his sexuality and his capabilities. These uncertainties fueled an inner turmoil that led him to leave for America, where he married, moved to Mexico, and eventually recognized that any book within him wasn’t going to materialize or be released without considerable effort. He remained financially reliant on his father until well into adulthood, and the documentary details how—even after achieving a single significant success—he was never able to find genuine satisfaction or overcome his dependence on gin. Donald Brittain's involvement in the production extended to nearly every aspect, but he employs a subtle narrative style, allowing carefully gathered archival material and touching interviews with those who knew him well to speak for themselves. If you haven’t seen Albert Finney’s performance in the 1984 film adaptation of Lowry’s novel, it's worth watching; many consider it his finest work and offers a glimpse into the autobiographical elements of a troubled individual—a potential genius or perhaps simply an alcoholic who benefited from a stroke of good fortune.

Source on TMDB