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Patti Smith: Dream of Life

United States

2008

109 Min
Color, Black and White
1.66:1
English
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
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DIR Steven Sebring

EXEC Steven Sebring

PROD Margaret Smilov, Scott Vogel

SCR Steven Sebring

DP Phillip Hunt, Steven Sebring

CAST Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Oliver Ray, Tom Verlaine, Sam Shepard, Philip Glass, Benjamin Smoke, Flea, Bob Dylan, Michael Stipe

ED Angelo Corrao, Lin Polito

SOUND Margaret Crimmins, Greg Smith

Sundance: Cinematography Award

Synopsis

Eleven years in the making, Patti Smith: Dream of Life is a unique and intimate portrait of the renowned singer, songwriter, poet and activist. Patti Smiths music, poetry, and politics are fearless, funny, raw, and original. Photographer-director Steven Sebring creates a beautiful collage of images, memories and performances illuminating the complexities and capturing the essence of this distinctive, legendary icon. The film follows Patti Smiths punk-icon roots in the 70s through the trials of daily life and untimely deaths that have formed her life and art. Smith tells the story of her early days in New York City, the people that we dearest to her (her late husband Fred Sonic Smith, Allen Ginsburg, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others), her family, and the political causes for which she so deeply struggled. Through beautiful cinematography, (both black and white, and color), Sebring captures the essence nature of this vital and relevant American artist. –amazon

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Frankly, Mr. Shankly

22Feb13

As a doc, it has no strenght, but as a portrait of her day-to-day life it's very appealing. Naturally, it could've been more investigative (I missed more Chelsea and Robert stuff), but watching Patti Smith, part woman, part God, talking about her life, memoirs and Art, is never too much. And the movie brings some nice live performances and some beautifully shot scenes-- those on Coney Island were really something.

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Nico Parèn

20May12

Somehow strange, I am just hearing the audio, no visuals. The screen is pitch black throughout the movie. Anybody else experiencing the same?

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dschank

23Jan12

heartfelt, occasionally fascinating (if a bit self-consciously "artistic") documentary about one of rock music's legitimate "living legends." smith is particularly illuminating on the subject of death.

Annalee likes this

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gasdoc73

14Sep11

amazing movie...something that left a mark on me...

elena likes this

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By Zack Scott on January 14, 2009

This is what I would call the epitome of Rock n Roll cinema. Deeply Moving and an extremely personal work of art. THe camera follows Patti Smith on a journey of finally saying goodbye to friends…  read review

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it does not play

5 posts by 4 people almost 4 years ago