I must admit I was not
looking forward to this 225 minute documentary celebrating the Great Hippie
concert of the ‘60s. I should have known better.
Anything edited by the great Thelma Schoonmaker had to be skillfully pieced
together and the result is a brilliant documentary that shed some light on a
festival that in many ways was a complete failure. If it
weren’t for the amazing performances captured on film and the fact no one died,
history would have written a different story about this
disaster. And I mean disaster literally because it was
designated a “Disaster Area” while it was going on. It was
truly an once-in-a-lifetime event that celebrated free-spirits willing to
endure anything for music, drugs and escape from an encroaching fast-paced world
of rules and expectations. Then there’s the music that isn’t
always fantastic but when it is, it really is a blessing to be able to
watch. To think the camera can only capture a
hint of the true magic that was going on. When I was done I
was so happy to be able to watch this experience in the comfort of my
couch. Could I have endured such a muddy, cold and wild
spectacle? No, and I doubt most in my generation could. To be
honest I wouldn’t have wanted to be there if I could. Once you arrived you’re
pretty much trapped. Which is like the film, once you start you can’t
stop watching, it’s a captivating experience that doesn’t feel that long at
all. Grade: A-
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