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Daniel Johnston Criticizes Documentary, Says He's Doing Fine

10:02 p.m. · April 5, 2010 · by Mike Burr

Not all artists are tortured, but few would place Daniel Johnston in the category of shiny happy people. So harrowing was his battle with bipolar disorder and depression that the bidding war to sign Johnston occurred while he was in a mental institution and a film, The Devil and Daniel Johnston, chronicled his ordeals. Johnston has now gone on record to say that even though his life hasn't been a bed of roses, the film focused artificially on the "worst experiences" of his life. He added that he wished there had been more focus on his music rather than the "stranger than fiction" aspects of his story. The Devil and Daniel Johnstonwon the Director's Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. [Clash]