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Jonathan Demme, an American director who passed away this year, in April, was the author of the multi-awarded “The Silence of the Lambs” (in Italy “Il silenzio degli innocenti”), from 1992, and one of the most iconic films regarding homosexuality and AIDS, “Philadelphia”, the following year, and also signed a trilogy dedicated to Neil Young, one of the most prolific and innovative artists in the history of rock, with its offshoots.
To close the monographic triptych, in 2011, for the first time in theaters comes “Journeys”, a docufilm that, using Neil's car journey as an excuse to reach Massey Hall in Toronto, a historic venue where he had already played on January 19, 1971, reproduces the concert which somehow celebrates the fortieth anniversary. The songs on the lineup within the film are presented in a different order from the original concert setlist as they are interspersed with moments of recollection by Neil of episodes of his life and scenes of him driving his car (the Canadian artist has a thing for engines!). Considering it’s a film work, the director’s personal editing definitely fits. And it's really well done!
The end credits have as their soundtrack “Helpless”, a historic track related to the supergroup formed by Neil along with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash, his colleagues, friends-enemies. The film features, in a brief scene at the beginning, Neil's brother, Bob; later the artist refers to his father, Scott, a renowned writer in his homeland, who also authored an autobiography, “Neil and Me”, about himself and his son, as the title suggests.
Demme skillfully uses the video footage from the concert at Massey Hall, giving the audience an idea of Neil’s immortal art, who, at 65 years, still gracefully handles his faithful instruments: the harmonica, the guitar, and the piano. The documentary is brief; it offers nothing beyond some impressions from the musician about his life, his country, and, in general, the places he is connected to. Neil talks about when, in his youth, he went fishing, or about when, as a child, he killed a turtle with firecrackers (something not very consistent with his future environmentalism and ecologism, as he himself says laughing). He also points to the school named after his father from his car.
As for the songs, you cannot be disappointed. The voice is the same as always, unmistakable, that visceral falsetto that touches sensitive chords in the listener. It starts with “Peaceful Valley Boulevard” (from “Le Noise”, a wordplay based on the producer, Daniel Lanois, who also worked with Brian Eno, U2, Peter Gabriel, and Bob Dylan, to name a few), goes through “Ohio”, “Down by the River”, “After the Gold Rush”, and “My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)”, and finally reaches “Walk With Me” (also from “Le Noise”).
A film that I highly recommend if you want to see and listen to an artist who is always fresh, forever young (as his name suggests). Do not expect a documentary in the true sense of the word. There is lots and lots of music here.
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