Este documental reciente intenta reflejar (aunque de manera guionizada y difuminada) un día cualquiera en la vida de ese peculiar icono y hombre más elegante del Rock que es Nick Cave. Indaga el propio Nick en el proceso creativo de las canciones, de las que se sirve para dejar retazos novelescos y adornados de su propia vida o intereses, y en su papel como figura del espectáculo donde disfruta de ese juego que es interpretar un personaje algo intimidante y de presencia sobradamente carismática. Aunque el documental, por su propio enfoque, parece destinado básicamente a admiradores del artista en cuestión, tiene escenas de enjundia diseminadas como aquella en la que Warren Ellis (su actual compañero de fechorías musicales) le roba totalmente la escena y cuenta su experiencia de haber asistido a recitales de Jerry Lee Lewis y Nina Simone, concierto este último del que también se puede escuchar en otro momento al propio protagonista evocar desde su punto de vista. Y seguro que es una sorpresa grata para seguidores esa aparición fugaz de Blixa Bargeld, antiguo socio de Cave y miembro de los alemanes Einstürzende Neubauten.
El largometraje, exquisitamente rodado, esquiva a pesar de su argumento entrar en aspectos de la vida cotidiana del protagonista, en favor de un homenaje (auto-homenaje a ratos) casi museístico y testamental al artista. Parece así rechazar un retrato más incisivo de la persona y hacer más hincapié en el personaje, algo que se compensa con una entrevista a modo de desván en la que relata recuerdos cruciales y vivencias afectivas. Supongo que Nick es mucho Nick y ha impuesto su proyección pública por encima del tipo que se baja del escenario, pero ya simplemente verlo moverse y actuar con su aspecto tragicómico y afectado, es por sí sólo un espectáculo. Y, consideración de matices aparte, las interpretaciones en vivo y en estudio de 'Higgs Boson Blues' justificarían por sí solas todo el metraje.
This recent documentary tries to reflect (albeit scripted and in a diffused way) a day in the life of that peculiar, fascinating and elegant Rock icon that is Nick Cave. Nick himself inquires in the creative process of songs as fictional pieces containing adorned fragmets of his own life and interests, and debates about his role as a show figure who comes alive onto stage where he enjoys the game that is becoming an intimidating and charismatic presence, so often poorly imitated by others. Although the documentary, by its own approach, seems destined exclusively to fans of the artist in question, it has moments of substance scattered as the one in wich Warren Ellis (his current musical partner-in-crime) totally steals the scene and talks about his experience of attending a Nina Simone and a Jerry Lee Lewis gig. But luckily enough the spectator gets to hear in a previous moment Nick himself talking about that same experience with Nina Simone. And I'm sure it is a pleasure for fans that fleeting appearance of Blixa Bargeld, ex-associate of Nick Cave and member of Einstürzende Neubauten.
The film, which I thought is beautifully filmed, also misses the opportunity to get into interesting aspects of Cave's daily life, for at the end it seems a testamental tribute to the artist, and a self-tribute at times. It would have been appreciated, as it is scripted, a portrait of the person above the character (or at least those aspects that make him the unique guy he is). But Nick seems too much and I get the impression that he has imposed in some sort of way his own vision of what this thing about him should be. And considering all these details aside, the performances live and in studio of 'Higgs Boson Blues' could justify all the footage.
El largometraje, exquisitamente rodado, esquiva a pesar de su argumento entrar en aspectos de la vida cotidiana del protagonista, en favor de un homenaje (auto-homenaje a ratos) casi museístico y testamental al artista. Parece así rechazar un retrato más incisivo de la persona y hacer más hincapié en el personaje, algo que se compensa con una entrevista a modo de desván en la que relata recuerdos cruciales y vivencias afectivas. Supongo que Nick es mucho Nick y ha impuesto su proyección pública por encima del tipo que se baja del escenario, pero ya simplemente verlo moverse y actuar con su aspecto tragicómico y afectado, es por sí sólo un espectáculo. Y, consideración de matices aparte, las interpretaciones en vivo y en estudio de 'Higgs Boson Blues' justificarían por sí solas todo el metraje.
This recent documentary tries to reflect (albeit scripted and in a diffused way) a day in the life of that peculiar, fascinating and elegant Rock icon that is Nick Cave. Nick himself inquires in the creative process of songs as fictional pieces containing adorned fragmets of his own life and interests, and debates about his role as a show figure who comes alive onto stage where he enjoys the game that is becoming an intimidating and charismatic presence, so often poorly imitated by others. Although the documentary, by its own approach, seems destined exclusively to fans of the artist in question, it has moments of substance scattered as the one in wich Warren Ellis (his current musical partner-in-crime) totally steals the scene and talks about his experience of attending a Nina Simone and a Jerry Lee Lewis gig. But luckily enough the spectator gets to hear in a previous moment Nick himself talking about that same experience with Nina Simone. And I'm sure it is a pleasure for fans that fleeting appearance of Blixa Bargeld, ex-associate of Nick Cave and member of Einstürzende Neubauten.
The film, which I thought is beautifully filmed, also misses the opportunity to get into interesting aspects of Cave's daily life, for at the end it seems a testamental tribute to the artist, and a self-tribute at times. It would have been appreciated, as it is scripted, a portrait of the person above the character (or at least those aspects that make him the unique guy he is). But Nick seems too much and I get the impression that he has imposed in some sort of way his own vision of what this thing about him should be. And considering all these details aside, the performances live and in studio of 'Higgs Boson Blues' could justify all the footage.
'20000 Days on Earth'
Reino Unido 2014
Escrita y dirigida por Nick Cave, Ian Forsyth, Jane Pollard
Dirigida por Ian Forsyth & Jane Pollard
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