"Crazy Love," a documentary directed by novice Dan Klores, was the first film to be sold at the Sundance Film Festival. The film was sold to Magnolia Pictures on Friday.
The documentary follows the sordid and tumultuous relationship of real-life subjects: Burton Pugach, a wealthy attorney, and Linda Riss, his much younger lover. The heavily publicized scandal graced the cover of every tabloid newspaper back in 1959 when Pugach, then a scorned lover, had his former lover, Riss, blinded with lye. Pugach served prison time and eventually Riss and Pugach made up and got back together.
It's a typical story really. Boy screws girl. Girl rejects boy. Boy blinds girl in a fit of jealous rage. Girl files charges against boy. Boy does time. Girl forgives boy. They run out of money. Movie is made. They make out with profit and more fame. Boy and girl live happily after. Blind eyes and all.