Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Vidi This!

The 22nd annual Washington, DC International Film Festival begins next week and one of the more interesting offerings is on Friday, April 25th. That evening, the festival will screen Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a documentary by Steven Sebring. The website describes the film as "a hypnotic plunge, a breathing collage of this legendary musician/poet/painter/activist's philosophy and artistry that feels as if it sprang directly from her soul. A punk pioneer and spiritual child of Rimbaud, Blake, and Burroughs, Patti Smith's fierce poetry and rock music shook up New York's 1970s underground scene, and her work continues to be stirred organically by her rigorous mind, beloved artistic touchstones, and world events. Shot over 11 years, the film travels Smith's mystical interior terrain—the ideas, losses, and memories she wrestles with—and traces her outward adventures. Layered with mesmerizing recitations, music, and narration, the fluid journey incorporates performances, graveyard pilgrimages and political rallies, archival nuggets, and vérité moments with her working-class parents, children, and friends."

Here's a YouTube video with snippets of the film. As Patti and Steven will appear at the screening, it looks like I need to score a ticket!

11 comments:

steve simels said...

To which I can only say -- wow.

Truly -- the mother of us all.

Kid Charlemagne said...

Steve, have you seen this yet? I just picked up tickets, looking forward to it.

steve simels said...

KC --

No, I just read about it yesterday in the new issue of Mojo, so I was obviously tickled you posted the clip.

I'm dying to know what you think of it....

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

And a new book on Patti was just published today too, over at 33 1/3

Anonymous said...

I will be making a surprise appearance.

B Northcut said...

wow. I can't wait to see that.

I remember going to see her after she "came back" - she did a show in Central Park for Summerstage. I think it was either the first or one of the first times she performed since her return. The feeling from the crowd- the admiration and affection for her- was unforgettable.

steve simels said...

It's interesting you should say that. I can't think of another performer from that period whose audience feels so protective of her....

Anonymous said...

We all just love Patti, she is very very special!

Steve I think you turned me on to her when you played me her privately pressed single Piss Factory back in 1974.


ROTP(lumber)

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

Steve, I can think of just one other, and her most recent interview is here.

steve simels said...

who am us:

Ah, Chrissie. Yeah, I think you're right about that, and thanks for the link....

MBowen said...

I was at the show virgotex mentioned. It may not have been the best performance I've ever been to, but it was the most emotional.