The Whitney holds Rivers’ personal print. Occasionally, during special retrospectives (like the upcoming 2025 “NYC Underground” series), they screen Growing to the public. Follow the Whitney’s events calendar for “updated” screening dates.
If you are a student or professor at a university, you can request a DVD-R copy (burned from the MoMA reference tape) through Interlibrary Loan. This is the closest thing to a download available, though it is a physical disc. Search your university library for “OCLC Number: 79264531.”
Before understanding Growing, one must understand its creator. Larry Rivers (1923–2002) was a pivotal figure in the transition from Abstract Expressionism to Pop Art. Often called the "godfather of Pop Art" (a title Warhol would later contest), Rivers was a painter, sculptor, jazz saxophonist, and filmmaker. documentary growing 1981 larry rivers download updated
His work blurred the lines between high art and vulgar reality. He painted erotic nudes of his mother-in-law, deconstructed American history, and lived a notoriously hedonistic life. By 1981, Rivers was already a controversial figure. So, when he announced a documentary about his own family, the art world leaned in.
Growing was not a standard biography. It was a cinéma vérité-style exploration of fatherhood, mortality, and the messy process of artistic creation. But the twist? The film focused heavily on his infant son, Sam, and the physical act of his wife, Clarice, nursing the child. The Whitney holds Rivers’ personal print
As of January 2025, Growing is finally available for rental ($3.99) and purchase ($12.99) on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. This is the safest "updated download" option. The file is 1080p, H.264, with closed captions.
Assuming you want a legal high-quality file for permanent offline storage (Plex, Jellyfin, or external hard drive), follow this method: As of January 2025, Growing is finally available
If you have a .edu email address, check Kanopy or Alexander Street (ProQuest) . Many film schools have licensed the restored digital file.
While Growing is a critical piece of 1980s art-meets-rock history, it is currently orphaned in the digital marketplace. Your best bet for viewing is through video-sharing platforms or fan-preservation networks, as no official updated