Words for the Dying 1989, 2008
Distributed by Microcinema International/Microcinema DVD, 1636 Bush St., Suite #2, SF, CA 94109; 415-447-9750
Produced by Provocateur
Directed by Rob Nilsson
DVD, color and b&w, 81 min.
Jr. High - Adult
Music, Poetry
Date Entered: 10/29/2008
Reviewed by Lisa Forrest, E. H. Butler Library, State University of New York College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NYIn April 1989, filmmaker Rob Nilsson trailed former Velvet Underground musician John Cale and musician/producer Brian Eno throughout Moscow, London and Wales while Cale recorded his “come back” album, Words for the Dying (a tribute to Dylan Thomas).
For those life-long fans of John Cale and Brian Eno, this rock-documentary will find meaning—even in 2008. But for those who are only vaguely familiar with the musical history of these fine musicians, it might seem a little much. Eno allows Nilsson to only non-obtrusively film him— saying it is “ok” to use surveillance camera footage, and film his hands and feet (the quirkiness of this was distracting, as was the “big deal” made out of his unwillingness to be filmed). Because of the difficulty filming Eno, most of the documentary focuses directly on John Cale and the surrounding tourist sites of Moscow and Wales. The most heartbreaking scene of the film follows Cale to a Wales nursing home, where he has to “trick” his mother into signing the family house away. While I enjoyed seeing the footage of Cale with his wife and daughter, it seemed inappropriate for Nilsson to impose upon this sensitive interaction between mother and son. With a running time of 81 minutes, the film could have used the editing of this scene.
The one saving grace of the film is the insight upon the creative process. It was magical to see the orchestra in Moscow take the musical compositions into flight. Highlights also include interviews with Russian rock band members and a female violinist discussing Soviet views of working women.
Technically speaking, the contrast of the black and white filming seemed a little off. I was also surprised that the quality of sound (this being a rock-documentary) was not of higher quality.
Recognizing the musical genius of Cale, I beg of him to not go gentle into that good night. But I think that a man of his caliber deserves more than this film has to offer.
Recommended only for hard-core John Cale or Brian Eno fans. As a librarian, I would not recommend this for general collections.