Tonight marks the return of former SF resident Michael Dean to the city for a screening of his new 80 minute film on the life of the late Hubert Selby Jr at the Yerba Buena Center For The Arts. Selby is best known for his literary works made into acclaimed major motion pictures “Requiem For A Dream” and “Last Exit To Brooklyn”, but his life was anything but a Hollywood glamour ride, rife with agonizing addictions and debilitating disease.

Sorta like Selby, the film’s director also battled the darkside of addiction, and many people around town who knew him a decade or so back as a maniacal musician type may hardly recognize the more mild mannered author & filmmaker who now lives in a suburb north of L.A.

The film will screen for only two shows at the relatively intimate theater on Thursday night Oct 12th, and advance tickets are recommended…

Narrated by Robert Downey Jr, Dean’s film goes over Selby’s life and has archival footage of the author known as “cubby” to his friends. Tough to watch at times, but inspiring none the less is Selby’s last interview,(a casual sort of affair shot by Dean with a tube in Selby’s nose). In addition to Selby, we hear from friends, fans & colleagues like Nick Tosches, Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, Amiria Baraka and Lou Reed.

View A Trailer & Find A Link to Yerba Buena Center For The Arts after the jump…

Variety said of the picture after a film festival screening

A compelling crash course in the life and work of a seminal American writer, “Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow” gives an impressive cross-section of talking heads a sharply edited forum in which to celebrate a talent whose prose and persona continue to reverberate worldwide a year after his death.

Here’s a trailer…

Apparently, as of this morning the YBCA has taken down the online ticketing purchase links

they suggest you call the box office for availability info…

tel 415.978.2700 or 415.978.2787

Dean’s website is here cubbymovie.com