#SRCZ Film // 20,000 Days On Earth (2014) (Starring Nick Cave)
Directed by: Iain Forsyth
& Jane Pollard
Starring: Nick Cave,
Warren Ellis et al
“At the end of the
twentieth century I ceased to be a human being…” (Nick Cave)
But, no matter how
profound a lyric is, it does not a properly realised movie make. It’s often the
case when watching the film, that the visuals hit you in the eye and the
accompanying narration from Cave firmly in the soul.
Over 100 minutes, that
barely register on any temporal scale as you’re in the moment, directors Iain
Forsyth and Jane Pollard paint a picture of a quietly transformative artist.
This is acknowledged in the film directly, most noticeably by Cave shooting any
such idea down during a conversation with Ray Winstone.
As the film opens we see Cave
in bed, silently contemplating his alarm clock. It’s an ordinary start to a
very interesting film that floats somewhere between documentary and art movie.
In fact, it’s true to say that in its artfully crafted study of song writing
and the creative process it’s a masterpiece. This of course works because Cave
is a very good songwriter and a gifted performer to boot. The sessions with The
Bad Seeds are in themselves master classes in how to write and demo a song and
are riveting.
Watching the film is, in
the context of the experience itself, a truly eye opening journey into the
creative processes of an ever ticking mind. Some may say that Cave is a man who
chooses his words very carefully and perhaps they’d be right. His lyrics are
poetic, personal things filled with emotional resonance but in conversation, as
is often the way with performers, he is much more measured and to the point.
But even in these instances it’s eyes on the screen material.
One early scene sees Cave
sit down with a psycho therapist, (an experience he enjoyed, according to the
live interview that followed the screening of the film.) and it’s beautifully
moving viewing. As Cave talks of his father, early relationships and past
musical experiences you really sense that this is going to be so much more than
your average rock n roll film. The truth is, 20000 Days On Earth is a moving piece
of cinema that features many moving and highly inspirational moments.
The conversations between
Cave and previous collaborators such as Kylie Minogue, Ray Winstone and more illuminate
the sense of artistic purpose behind the movie perfectly. Often hilarious and
more often touching in a way that’s hard to describe accurately, this is an
emotional study of Cave’s music more than any tour document or band profile.
The final moments of the film, with the Bad Seeds on stage performing the album
highlight of Push The Sky Away, an enormously satisfying version of Jubilee
Street, are precious in their formation.
As we see Cave flashback
through the ages, playing on the songs final lyrics of change and
transformation, you realise that although he denies the fact, he has well and
truly transformed in the space of the decades, and in the space of the film.
You see not just a vaguely grumpy songwriter, but a person with an enviable
life ethic of pushing further until you’re satisfied with your art.
When the credits finally
roll over a night time scene of Brighton, Cave’s home for many years, you
realise that you have to do something, anything to push for the next step of your
creative evolution, if you’re to get anywhere near the power of Cave’s work. Watch
this film. You won’t regret it! If you’re a song writer or creator, you will
certainly see yourself here. If you’re not, then you’ll see a song writing genius
in action in the most beautiful and moving manner.
(Sebastian Gahan.)
(Sebastian Gahan.)
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