The Bourdain AI furore shouldn’t overshadow an effective, complicated film | Adrian Horton

Despite anger over a decision to deepfake the voice of the much-loved star in a new documentary it's a haunting and difficult film that deserves to be seen

Anthony Bourdain was a singularly beloved cultural figure. His death by suicide in 2018 at 61 while filming an episode of his CNN travel series Parts Unknown remains, for many, one of the most tragic and baffling public losses of the past few years. Given the intense connection to the chef turned TV personality felt by his fans, and the shock of his death, Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain, a bracing, graceful new documentary on Bourdain that features his inner circle, was going to be met sensitively.

Related: Anthony Bourdain documentary sparks backlash for using AI to fake voice