(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[berlin] This year's Berlin Film Festival, which ends on February 17, has degenerated into the purest music festival. The main attractions are a handful of prominent veteran rockers. The Rolling Stones and director Martin Scorsese opened the festival for a huge press corps with the concert film Shine a light. The world's longest-lived rock band mainly had musical manifestations to offer – and few or no opinions to beat the table with.
In turn, it had Neil Young and Patti Smith. They both record the thread from the hippie movement in the films they presented on the 58. Berlinale.
CSNY Déjà Vu, is a documentary of the Canadian rock legend's band Crosby Stills Nash & Young's (CSNY)'s concerts in the USA in the summer of 2006. The tour was called Freedom of Speech Tour, and is a well-aimed kick against the Bush admiration and the war in Iraq. Directed by Young himself, under the pseudonym Bernard Shakey.
Anti War Songs
- In advance, we agreed that the tour should only include political songs and anti-war songs, says the 62-year-old rocker, who expresses surprisingly little faith in the impact of protest songs in our time:
- The time when music could change the world is over. It's too naive to believe it these days, because the world is a pretty different place now. It's not just a personal opinion, but something I know for sure. Now it's up to science to make a difference and save the world.
A handful of the songs are old hits from CSNY that have renewed the news with the Iraq war. Among these is "Ohio," which is still considered one of rock history's strongest anti-war songs. A large part of the repertoire is also taken from the political Neil Young album Living with War (2006).
The parallels to the Vietnam War are clear in the film. Young and co. also uses the old peace symbol as the logo at the concerts, in a new and distorted edition, which seems to express that despite hard compassion it still holds validity. On one of the songs in the film the chorus is "No more war! ". The quartet succeeds in bringing the audience along to sing songs. Band member Graham Nash notes with interest that when they performed the same song in 2003, almost no Americans would sing the three words.
- I wanted to deliver the music straight from the soul of the film and not dilute the message or add too much sugar. The message is so heavy that it does not need to be wrapped. That's what it is, says Young, who has clear thoughts about war:
- All wars are really the same war. War is the wrong way to solve problems. It hurts everyone. I want the film to show what it is like to live with war. That way, this film is timeless, says the 62-year-old, who lives in the United States but holds on to his Canadian citizenship.
- Making music films has been done differently over the years. Some of them have been more artistic than others. I have had the pleasure of participating in several of them, but I do not see that music documentaries have developed so much over the years, Young believes.
In one scene, he answers questions from a journalist about why he does not hand over protests against the Iraq war to younger musicians: "Since no younger man seems to want to be critical of the Iraq war, I decided at the age of 60 to do something again. ”
The protest singer is alive
But Neil Young is probably not quite right on that point. Both Green Day, Pink, Pearl Jam, Molotov, Eminem, Nanci Griffith and REM have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Iraq war on record. The same goes for old trotters like Bruce Springsteen and Madonna. But, of course, it has not been anywhere near the same extent as 40 years ago, when almost every other musician seemed politically engaged. However, it should be said that at that time it was easier to stand out, as they had great support from the US media, which gave the critical voices attention and playing time.
The modern rock protest song largely derives from American folk singer Woody Guthrie (1912-67). On his travels around the United States, he became acquainted with workers and other less privileged whose problems he addressed in his songs. On the guitar he had the words: "This machine kills fascists". Guthrie inspired Bob Dylan, who has again lit a spark with both Neil Young and Patti Smith, as well as a number of non-English-language artists who became political in the 1960s and 1970s. Belgium had its Jacques Brel. In Chile it was Victor Jara, while Italy had several politically oriented bands, such as Premiata Forneria Marconi and Banco del Mutuo Succorso. While here in the country, it was primarily Vømmøl Spellmannslag who had a clear political streak.
Can inspire action
- From the very beginning, political songs have been important. Throughout music history, political songs have inspired people. Political songs can still inspire people to action. And there is action needed now, whether it is by voting, boycotting or going on demonstrations, says rock artist Patti Smith, with a statement that expresses more hope than Neil Young's more pessimistic statement that music has lost its power.
Patti Smith: Dream of Life is an intimate portrait of the artist and man by virtue of being a poet, painter, political activist and musician, as well as mother and widow. Director Steven Sebring has spent twelve years with Smith to bring out the essence of her. She herself describes the process as "an arrow that has flowed slowly through the air and has finally reached its goal".
Of many, the 61-year-old is considered the foremost feminine icon in rock, and her voice has not lost its power over the years.
- Ever since the first album, I have said that I am independent and can not be put in a box. Every time you see a journalist call me a punk rocker, it's because they do not have the imagination to see the breadth of my music, says Smith and continues:
- Music is a universal form of communication. I love hearing other bands do cover versions of my songs, whether it's a Chinese punk band playing "Rock and roll nigger" or U2 doing "Dancing barefoot". Music is for everyone, and everyone can interpret it. Several times I have been asked to make a documentary. My impression has been that it is something you make about a recently deceased person. When I was asked by the director, I was at a very low point in my life. My husband had just passed away, I was having a hard time financially, and I had to get back on my feet. Having someone as director Steven Sebring, who had faith in me, was helpful. He gave me hope and energy through the process.
- I did not want to make a regular rock documentary. This project was an attempt to do something new and a new way of looking at a person, explains director Steven Sebring.
A battle for freedom of speech
Unless otherwise stated, Neil Young and Patti Smith make it clear to the outside world that there are, after all, articulated, critical voices in America, who are not afraid to speak their minds. Both films were also shown at the American Independent Film Festival, Sundance, earlier this year.
The performance of the potent "Impeach the President" in CSNY Déjà vu seems more like a social experiment than just an expression of political agitation. The text contains accusations against Bush; "Let's impeach the president. For lying and leading our country into war. Abusing all the power that we gave him. And shipping our money out the door ». The reaction of Neil Young and co. getting at a concert in the southern states shows that Americans are markedly divided on certain issues. From one half he receives the bow, and from the other cheers. Several obviously provoked supporters of the Republicans express their indignation at Neil Young's outspoken text after the concert.
As Neil Young says in CSNY Déjà vu, the point of the tour is not "to make people feel happy, but to make them feel something". In the film, Young has also included selected American critics' assessment of the Freedom of Speech tour. Several of them are negative – with opinions such as that music and politics should not be mixed too much.
- For me, it is important to reflect how people in the US feel and think about living in war, both people who came to our concerts, the soldiers who went to war and the politicians who started this war. Since the topic is what it is, I felt that it was natural to include the negative reactions as well. Otherwise we would have just appeared as a bunch of hippies who no one cares what says. The aim has been to stimulate debate and hear what all parties think, says Neil Young, who has also created the website Living with War Today, where he posts news from Iraq and has collected over 2000 free downloadable protest songs from artists around the world.
Believe in youth
After all, if Neil Young is right that the protests have lost their effect, after all, young Americans are extraordinarily preoccupied with the upcoming presidential election, which many consider to be one of America's most important.
- I have always had hope for the future. Today's young people have an extraordinary power, due to the technology, not least the internet, that we have today. In a historical context, it is unique that this group has so much power, and it is important that they understand the positive impact they can have with their access to technology. They have the power to make their own decisions, as they have done with the music industry, for example. And they can also take important political actions and mobilize in groups that are against war or fighting for the environment. Children are not stupid, they just need guidance. I think it will be a very energetic presidential election, especially since so many young people are showing interest. I myself have not decided which candidate I want to go for. I will not support anyone until they are clearer. It is important that all Americans take responsibility and cast their vote this time, Patti Smith concludes.
