Patti Smith: Dream of Life (Documentary, US 2008)
I was looking forward to this ever since it premiered early this year at Sundance, so I was pleasantly surprised that the German/French TV broadcaster Arte showed it yesterday night.
The photographer Steven Sebring filmed Patti Smith over a period of 12 years and created an very unusual portrait of this artist and activist. The structure is non-linear and the focus is on intimate moments and exploring Smith' mindscape. While her music is used throughout the film, it is often interwoven with Smith' own off-screen reflections on friends and influencal artists. Similarly, concert footage is often shown with asynchronous sound, aiming to capture the essence of the performance.
An utterly fascinating film, highly recommended.
