Smiling Through the Apocalypse

“Smiling Through the Apocalypse” explores the life of Harold Hayes, the influential editor whose visionary approach shaped Esquire Magazine into a cultural powerhouse during the 1960s. The documentary, narrated by his son Tom, offers a unique glimpse into the magazine’s most notable contributors, including figures like Nora Ephron, George Lois, Tom Wolfe, and Gore Vidal. This film delves into the themes of risk, success, and adversity, as recounted by those who contributed to the magazine’s legacy, and follows a son’s journey to appreciate his father’s editorial genius, more than two decades after his death.