181. This Much I Know To Be True; movie review

 

THIS MUCH I KNOW TO BE TRUE

Cert 15

105 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language

"I would have defined myself as a musician or writer and I am trying to wean myself off those definitions and see myself as a person, as a husband, a father and friend and citizen."

The words of Nick Cave could not have been more poignant because I was watching his latest documentary only a day after he announced the death of his son, Jethro.

This was the second time he has suffered what no parent should - the passing of a child. 

The prince of darkness has known some of the very darkest of times.

Of course, his lyrics reflect much thought on the harshness of life and that has not changed with the songs presented in This Much I Know To be True.

This is intimate work, performed is a small hall with backing by his collaborator-in-chief Warren Ellis and occasionally other singers and musicians.

Marianne Faithfull even emerges, connected to an oxygen supply to read a poetic introduction to one song.

In between the recordings are brief clips from an interview with Cave in which he is predictably uncomfortable and guarded.

Indeed, he confesses that he found the entire process of being filmed awkward.

Nevertheless, I found the music of This Much I Know To be True to be dreamy. Cave's lyrics are meaningful, he has a superb deep voice and the arrangement are lush.

Ellis is a genius musician and his accompaniments on a variety of instruments are mesmerising.

I had not been a big fan of Nick Cave's music but I feel like I should be. This film by Andrew Dominik will lead to me exploring it further.

Reasons to watch: Great, haunting music

Reasons to avoid: No great revelations about Cave

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None 

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Born and raised in rural Victoria, Cave studied art in Melbourne before fronting the Birthday Party, one of the city's leading post-punk bands, in the late 1970s. They relocated to London in 1980, but, disillusioned by life there, evolved towards a darker and more challenging sound that helped inspire gothic rock 

The final word. Andrew Dominik: "I first met Nick at the drug dealers, you know? Like in 1986, I was just an innocent private schoolboy getting my first heroin habit. And I walked into the living room and, the prince of darkness was sitting on the couch, watching a documentary about earthworms. " The Playlist

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