Review of One More Time with Feeling (2016) by Pfilip — 07 Sep 2016

It was hard to know what to expect from this film--would it play as a sequel to "20,000 Days On Earth"? Would it appear like a narrative, the album in visual from start to finish? It's a bit of both, and more.

.. deeply moving, haunting, and beautifully affecting in its portraiture of the artists on which it focuses, "One More Time With Feeling" does precisely what it sets out to do: renders a thousand interviews and questions moot, and gives the world as much insight as Cave and his wife are willing to share--and that, it turns out, is perhaps a mercy to us, for what they do say is staggering in its honesty.

We could talk about aesthetics (the film is gorgeous, the black-and-white 3-D experience hypnotizes and lends weight and immediacy to the interview portions--and makes the musical performances soar) but at core this is a document of process and people, who are also very much in process themselves.

How rare, and how rich for us, the fans and listeners, to have such access to these amazing folks, even in their sorrow. A friend and I braved torrential rains and flashing skies, arriving at the theater thoroughly soaked--yet the experience was well worth it, and I know I will be revisiting Cave's words (and this director's vision) for a long time.

I heard a rumor there were extra showings being planned in the following days, and I hope it's true--should the opportunity arise, I strongly recommend viewing this film in its intended format. At the very least, the music is there for us all.