For anyone who has read my previous comment on the great Townes Van Zandt, or has heard and enjoyed his music, this DVD is a must see. If neither is applicable to you but you are interesting in an insight into the tragic workings of a genius, this is also a must.
This is the an often heartbreaking, sometimes amusing, always fascinating account of the life and times of Townes Van Zandt: Texan troubadour, manic depressive, misunderstood drunk, lovelorn poet and close friend to a lucky and select few. Van Zandt has written countless classic songs of loss, hope and heartbreak including the hits Pancho and Lefty and If I Needed You and has been covered by countless artists from Norah Jones, Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan, some of whom are interviewed here.
As a biographical documentary, this is an engaging and lovingly crafted film directed by life long fan Margaret Brown. There is the perfect balance of archive footage, musical performance and interviews. The first thing to note is the quality of the interviewees. We do not get the usual role call of ex school friends, gym instructors, mothers ballroom teacher that you usually get from a similar film. Everyone who meant anything to Townes (who hadn't passed away themselves) is covered from ex-girlfriend to son to numerous musicians both influenced by Townes and friends of his. All offer insightful and moving accounts of his enigma.
Archive footage, some seen for the first time, shows Townes in more relaxed circumstances and at home. This gives the greatest insight into his torment, which you can sense even when Townes is at play. This is most noticeable in a closing credits sequence with Townes goofing around trying on different hats. He has a smile on his face and is laughing, but deep down you can sense an inevitable gloom lurking. This could not be a more apt precise of the man and there are numerous further examples of similar jest in concert.
Many scenes have been borrowed from the documentary 'Heartworn Highways' (another must see) in which Townes heavily features. This is no bad thing as firstly, they are all first rate and secondly, there is enough original material to make this film more than a re-hash.
Of note is the scene where Townes performs his song 'Waiting Around To Die' in his kitchen to his girlfriend and neighbour, a hardened God fearing, land loving man whose years of struggle a etched into his face. The camera lingers on him as you watch his demeanour crumble throughout the song until he finally breaks down. This is heart wrenching and even as I write I can feel a tear welling. This is indicative of how moving a piece this is and how likeable Townes comes across throughout.
Townes died in 1997 after a hip replacement and was found dead by his son who gives a curiously matter of fact account of it here. We close with footage of the funeral where Guy Clark utters aptly before playing: 'He booked this gig 37 years ago'. During his lifetime Townes ominously titled an album The Lat Great Townes Van Zandt as though he knew an early demise would be inevitable. Sadly, he was right.
This is compulsive and soul searching viewing.
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