A Fan's Notes (film)

A Fan's Notes is a 1977 Canadian comedy-drama film directed by Eric Till. It is based on the 1968 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Frederick Exley. The film stars Jerry Orbach as Fred Exley, Burgess Meredith as his father, and Rosemary Murphy as his mother.

The film follows the life of Fred Exley, a man obsessed with American football and wrestling, who struggles with alcoholism, mental instability, and a general inability to function in mainstream society. Exley lives in the shadow of his athletic father and constantly compares himself unfavorably to others. He spends much of his time in mental institutions, bars, and watching sports, avoiding the responsibilities of adulthood and seeking meaning in the vicarious triumphs of athletes.

The film explores themes of alienation, identity crisis, the nature of fandom, and the struggle to find purpose in a seemingly meaningless world. While remaining largely faithful to the source material, the film adaptation simplifies some aspects of the novel's complex narrative structure and internal monologue. It received mixed reviews upon release, but is considered by some to be a cult classic and a notable example of Canadian cinema from the 1970s.