He tells of how John Lennon broke the tension when meeting the Maharishi for the first time. How he taught John the Donovan style of guitar picking. Meeting Janis Joplin, talking with Jimi Hendrix, and meditating with Rick Rubin. There is film of him playing music for deaf children in India. More recently film of him playing music for school children near his home in Ireland.
A stand out moment has him returning to St. Ives beach. With both the 1965 and the 2008 Donovan shown side by side it illustrates the timeless power of the visual image and, of course, his music.
It is a truly wonderful account of an exceptional life. This is a man who wasn’t merely next to the great and the good, he was part of them, and admired by them. The prince of flower power, a pied piper, a poet, a musical gypsy, but most of all the genuine article.
This film is a priceless addition to any of his admirers. They simply cannot be without it. It is a valuable sociological piece for anyone with interest in the world of the sixties. It is also a gem for any music lover.
The film takes us on, to today. Despite his fame never quite reaching the heights that it did in the sixties, his onward career included some of his most impressive work such as Cosmic Wheels, in the early seventies and Sutras twenty plus years later. In the end he emerges a wiser and altogether more fascinating man.
This is without doubt right up there with the very best, most informative, and honest, self study I have ever seen, in music, or otherwise. It clocks in at over three hours and that isn't including the huge wealth of material on the two hour extra disc.
If only he lived next door.
Please refer to the review by Blogcritics own David Bowling. Visit Donovan's official website for details of a forthcoming album and sadly a farewell tour.
Article comments
1 - Phil Peters
I've watched it.
I grew up in the 60's
I can't think of many, whose biography would be deserving of a 3 hour plus film.
While interesting, considering where he has been and what he has done, I found the length tedious.
I felt that it was Donovan's sense of self that made it that long.
2 - Jeff
Thanks Phil, I suppose it must be difficult, with a life so full, to know what to include and what to leave out - as different sections are of varying degrees of interest to different people. Either way - it's an incredible life story. Thanks for reading the review and for taking the time to add your views. Jeff