Speaking From the Grave….

Nothing else quite affected the music industry during the mid 90’s as the shocking news in 1994 that Kurt Cobain, one of Grunge rock’s most influential front men, had killed himself with a shotgun at his Seattle mansion home in early April. During the ensuing days thousands gathered in Seattle, in a candle-lit vigil to commemorate the passing of man, who had already reached legend status while still alive as songwriter, guitarist and vocalist of the Seattle-based three-piece band Nirvana.

Since then there has been much controversy surrounding the nature of his death, the turbulent relationship with wife Courtney Love and the personality clashes with fellow band members. Based on hours of previously unheard interviews with music journalist Michael Azerrad, this is perhaps where About a Son mostly resonates, with Cobain recounting his life from early childhood to the height of his musical acclaim.

Featuring the visual landscapes of Cobain’s life and much of the music that had originally inspired him, About a Son is an enthused portrait defining the life of a man, musician, husband and father. Cobain comes across as quite a joker, positive and light-hearted individual, the very opposite to the suicidal depressive many have labelled him. Even when a particular interview is interrupted by Courtney Love calling to Cobain, it can’t help to add to the down-to-earth-ness of the rock icon.

At nearly a hundred minutes long About A Son is perhaps a lengthy venture for a film that is essentially a voice-over commentary, but one can’t help but be drawn in by its delicate sensibilities. In his own words, as if speaking from the grave, Cobain’s intimate musings in About a Son bring a new and refreshing, albeit, eerie chapter to this story of a young man’s struggle in a celebrity obsessed world.