A dark journey into the mind of master of noir James Ellroy. Through an exclusive interview and archival material, the documentary intertwines his personal and artistic journey with his unique vision of Los Angeles: the city of his birth, the source of his traumas, and an inexhaustible reservoir of events, crimes and characters that transform themselves into his literary masterpieces. Ellroy's rhythmic, jazzy narration alternates with the sounds of the legendary Italian band Calibro 35.

Director's note

Ellroy vs. L.A. is the result of a personal desire: to get to the heart of the troubled relationship between James Ellroy and the city that created him and forever marked him. When I decided to make this documentary, I knew that interviews alone would not suffice. I wanted to create an imaginary conversation between Ellroy and Los Angeles, a dialogue in which the city responds, retorts, sometimes contradicts, sometimes amplifies the writer's words. I searched for the voice of L.A. in films, in archival material, in images that carry the spectre of an era. I wanted this film to be a journey into the unbreakable bond that exists between the writer and his city, which in their constant pursuit of one another end up blurring into one another.