NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD

FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER AT 7:15PM

Country USA Running Time 103 mins Format 35mm Director Jonathan Demme    Director of Photography Ellen Kuras Producer Jonathan Demme, Tom Hanks, Ilona Herzberg, Neil Young Featuring  Neil s Website www.uip.co.uk

Jonathan Demme’s filmic account of the legendary musician shot over a two-night performance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium will leave you pleasantly surprised. Though it is dubbed as a concert film, it doesn’t feel like someone is just up on a stage performing with a camera in their face. Young’s track selections and performances, along with Demme’s intimate camera work, reveal a man who cherishes his childhood, his home, and his family. A true storyteller, Young gives anecdotes of songs he’s written, who they are dedicated to, as well as the meaning each song carries for him. It’s not so much these little facts or tidbits of information that reveal so much about Young in this film. It’s his outlook and compassion spoken through his lyrics which are ultimately most showing of the kind of man he is.
Paul Thomas Anderson once said that he never saw a close-up that looked good until he saw a Jonathan Demme film. Employing this natural touch for close-ups, Demme creates an intimate and beautiful concert film that surprisingly never gets boring, even for those who aren’t huge fans of concert films or Neil Young. Demme never once resorts to flashy camera movements to make his concert film seem interesting. His style and approach allows the viewer to focus on the film’s subject rather than creating an empty visual experience as so many concert films often tend to do. Heart Of Gold is what happens when you bring together a great filmmaker and a great musician when both are on top form.   JV

back to schedule

FESTIVAL HOME