Producer & Director: Nick Broomfield
Director of Photography: Joan Churchill, Alex Vedder |
"Kurt & Courtney" is likely to appeal to a wide range of film lovers - from fans of Nirvana, to addicts of "Australia's Most Wanted" and lovers of documentary film.
British documentary maker, Nick Broomfield, is described by some as a 'guerilla' filmmaker. He hits and runs, carrying his recorder and boom right up to those he is interested in interviewing. We frequently see him in screen, headphones on, boom in hand, questioning friends and relatives of Kurt and Courtney about the singer's death. Was it suicide or was it murder?
Broomfield follows people and clues like a detective - one person's comment leads to another person, or to a place of interest in Cobain's life. Some of the interviews are funny, others sad and some downright scary. There's the delightful one with an old friend of Kurt's whose dog is sitting beside her on the couch, out of frame, but nevertheless contributing a growl from time to time.
There's a sense that we are seeing people as they are, free of pretence and whilst this is refreshing and frequently amusing there is also a sense of discomfort at the way in which they are revealing themselves to the viewer. Are they being used /abused by the filmmaker?
This is investigative journalism with the camera. Broomfield obviously admired Cobain as an artist and is intrigued by the conspiracy theories surrounding his death. Tom Grant, a private detective, once hired by Courtney Love, believes it was murder and has bankrupt himself seeking to argue his case.
But Broomfield is equally concerned to highlight the difficulties he, as a filmmaker, had in seeking out the information. Whilst some were willing to speak with him, others were not, most notably Courtney Love. Her objections meant that Broomfield was unable to include any of Cobain's music on the soundtrack and it is suggested it was her influence that caused one of his backers to withdraw his support for the project. Theatres planning to screen the film have been told by Love's lawyers that they may be open to charges of defamation.
In Broomfield's film Courtney Love comes across as a vicious witch of a person, dedicated only to her own aggrandisement and happily hitching a ride on the coat-tails of a likely talent in Kurt Cobain.
Love it or hate it "Kurt & Courtney" is a great film experience that will keep you talking. And Kurt is beautiful!
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