Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song is a documentary film which premiered in 2021.
It is about the life and the musical career of the Canadian artist Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), with special focus on his famous song Hallelujah.
Here is some basic information about this film:
** Creators: Daniel Geller & Dayna Goldfine
** Based on the book The Holy or the Broken by Alan Light (2012)
** Language: English
** Subtitles: English
** Run time: 112 minutes
Several persons are interviewed in this film
Here are the names of the participants
Listed in alphabetical order
** Nancy Bacal (1937-2023) – an actress
** Steve Berlowitz – a producer
** John Cale (born 1942) – a Welsh musician
** Brandi Carlile (born 1981) – a musician
** Eric Church (born 1977) – a musician
** Judy Collins (born 1939) – a musician
** Clive Davis (born 1932) – a producer
** Susan Feldman
** Mordecai Finley
** Glen Hansard (born 1970) – an Irish musician
** Dominique Issermann (born 1947) – a French photographer
** Vicky Jenson (born 1960) – a film director
** Myles Kennedy (born 1969) – a musician
** John Lissauer – a producer
** Janine Dreyer Nichols – an actress
** Amanda Palmer (born 1976) – a musician
** Sharon Robinson (born 1958) – a musician
** Larry “Ratso” Sloman (born 1950) – an author
** Regina Spektor (born 1980) – a musician
** Rufus Wainwright (born 1973) – a musician
** Joan Wasser (born 1970) – a musician
** Hal Willner (1956-2020) – a music producer
Archive footage is used between the talking heads
Archive footage is used to support and supplement the statements made by the talking heads
Archive footage allows the viewers to witness significant moments of the past and to meet the person who is the main subject of this film.
The poet Leonard Cohen worked on the song Hallelujah for something like seven years. It was a track on an album which was recorded in 1984:
Various Positions
But when the recording was completed, the record company declared that it was a horrible album and refused to release it in the US.
It was released in the UK. After a while, it was released on a very small label in the US.
Bob Dylan heard the song, and he liked it so much that he sometimes included it when he gave a concert.
The artist John Cale also liked it, and he liked it so much that he recorded a cover version of it for an album which was a tribute to Leonard Cohen:
I’m Your Fan:
The Songs of Leonard Cohen
(Released 1991)
When the song was played by Bob Dylan and when it was recorded by John Cale, it became so well-known that it took on a life of its own.
Nowadays, it is a famous song which has been covered by many artists and which is used on many occasions, some of them with a religious nature and others with a non-religious nature.
This film covers the history of this song.
As stated above, this film is based on a book:
The Holy or the Broken
By Alan Light
(2012 = hardcover)
(2022 = paperback)
What do reviewers say about this film?
Here are some results:
70 percent = Meta
76 percent = IMDb
88 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the critics)
91 percent = Rotten Tomatoes (the audience)
The ratings are very good, as you can see. I understand the numerous positive reviews and I agree with most of them.
The story of this song is interesting. It deserves to be told, and in this film, it is done quite well.
In my opinion, the ratings on Meta and IMDb are too low, while the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes are too high.
I want to find a position in the middle. I think this film deserves a rating of four stars (80 percent)
REFERENCES
# 1. Books
Various Positions:
A Life of Leonard Cohen
By Ira B. Nadel
(2010)
Leonard Cohen:
The Music and the Mystique
By Maurice Ratliff
(2012)
The Holy or the Broken
By Alan Light
(2012)
I’m Your Man:
The Life of Leonard Cohen
By Sylvie Simmons
(2012 = hardcover)
(2021 = paperback)
# 2. Film and video
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man
A documentary film
(2005)
Leonard Cohen: Live in London
A concert
(2009)
Leonard Cohen: Live in Dublin, 2013
A concert
(2014)
Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen
This concert was held in Montreal (Quebec) in November 2017, one year after his death in November 2016
(2018)
Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love
A documentary film
(2019)
So long, Marianne
A historical drama
A miniseries with eight episodes
(2024)
*****
Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen:
Interviews and Encounters
Edited by Jeff Burger
(2014 = hardcover)
(2015 = Paperback)
*****
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