An authorized documentary on the late musician Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with the grunge band Nirvana.
The story of Nirvana-frontman Kurt Cobain is told in his old words in Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. Utilizing Cobain’s own art, music, journals, Super 8 films and audio montages, director Brett Morgen constructs this stylized biography of the late singer’s life. From his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his marriage to Courtney Love, the film reveals the human being behind the Nirvana frontman. Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is a fully authorized biography, which sets out to tell the definitive story of the Nirvana frontman. It has now been more than two decades since Kurt Cobain’s suicide and there is still much enigma over what exactly was going on in Cobain’s head. Using old journal entries, home movies, and audio recordings, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck focuses primarily on Cobain’s private life. The film features interviews with many individuals in his life, including his parents, Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, and Courtney Love. The film also features a number of animated re-enactments, which uses audio of Cobain to essentially bring the singer back to life. Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck really has the right title, since the film is a mix of many different elements. The film features everything from traditional talking head interviews to grainy performance footage to multiple animated sequences. In fact, the animated re-enactments, which have a rotoscoped feel to them, are probably the most impressive element of the film. Not surprisingly, the soundtrack of the film is made up of Nirvana’s songs, even though the film occasionally would use an alternate version, such as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sung by a children’s choir. While it’s not a perfect film, Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is still a visually interesting peak into Kurt Cobain’s personal life. ★ ★ ★ ★ | LIKED IT Screenings:
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Sat, Apr 25, 1:15 PM – Bloor Hot Docs Cinema