agmtw logo
search
This Much I Know to Be True (2022)

This Much I Know to Be True (2022)

An ethereal and healing concert film, and a personal journal for Australian musician Nick Cave

The Very Best

8.1

Movie

United Kingdom, United States of America
English, Spanish
Documentary, Drama, Music
2022
ANDREW DOMINIK
Andrew Dominik, Earl Cave, Marianne Faithfull
105 min

What it's about

Like all musicians in 2021, Nick Cave was unable to connect with his audience in person. He uses this concert film to break the vocal and instrumental silence, talk about himself and perform songs from “Ghosteen” and “Carnage”, with help from Warren Ellis.

The take

Whether or not you're a fan of Nick Cave's contemplative, idiosyncratic style of music, This Much I Know to Be True still works on a purely experiential level. There's confusion, then a rush of euphoria, then an overwhelming sense of peace when listening to Cave's (and musical collaborator Warren Ellis's) cryptic lyrics and delicate compositions—shot with breathtaking use of studio lights by director Andrew Dominik and cinematographer Robbie Ryan.

And things only get more emotional when you consider how far Cave has come, that these performances are happening several rough years from the untimely death of his son. And suddenly even all the unrelated B-roll footage included in the film—of Cave talking about his sculptures, talking to Ellis, answering profound fan emails—takes on a greater urgency. This sounds like music for mourning, but in its own way it's music for celebration, too, and gratitude despite everything.

Comments

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Once Were Warriors (1994)

A Maori family survives in an alienating Auckland in this raw, tragic drama

8.0

My Old Ass (2024)

A pleasant mix of comedy and coming-of-age that may or may not leave you in tears

8.0

Silenced (2011)

A brutal and harrowing exposé of the schoolwide abuse case that sparked outrage in Korea

9.0

Laapataa Ladies (2024)

Two brides are accidentally swapped in this refreshing comedy of errors

8.9

The Substance (2024)

Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror

8.3

200 Meters (2020)

A father stops at nothing to visit his injured son in this raw, thoughtful road drama

7.5

Look Back (2024)

Art connects people through time and space in this short and sweet drama

9.0

Memoir of a Snail (2024)

A crack of hope shines through in this heartbreaking animated film about preservation and perseverance

8.6

The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

A star-studded and riveting legal drama with a blockbuster feel.

8.1

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.