The proof of a good documentary is how you feel afterwards. If the subject matter means as much to you as it did to me here, then the emotional pull of nostalgia and sadness can wash over you without you even noticing. The end of this documentary had me wiping tears from my cheeks, and as The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down from The Last Waltz played over text giving the dates of the deaths of Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, and Rick Danko, I couldn't help but feel an air of sadness at the memories I have of the untimely demise of three extremely talented musicians that have rightly earned their place in rock history.

Once Were Brothers: Robbie…

Oh brother! Where to begin? If you know very little, or nothing at all about the history and drama of the five-headed juggernaut known as The Band, this might not be the best place to start. If you want a very subjective and self-romanticized version, then here you are; Robertson's version, minus anyone, or anything to suggest otherwise. Yes, no question, Robbie Robertson was the guy who plotted much of the course, and wrote a lion's share of the material; all of that is true, but the truth is a lot deeper than what you'll get here. The rock that The Band's tale is written on are the first three albums, and especially the first two "Music From Big Pink"…

English Version below ...

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band (2019)

Bruce Springsteen: Das war mitten in der psychedelischen Ära... Und hier kommen diese Stimmen, die klingen, als hätte man sie noch nie zuvor gehört – und dabei gibt es sie schon ewig.

Robbie Robertson: Es war so schön, dass es in Flammen aufging.

Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band ist ein kanadischer Dokumentarfilm aus dem Jahr 2019 unter der Regie von Daniel Roher. Der Film ist ein Porträt der einflussreichen Roots-Rock-Gruppe The Band und basiert teilweise auf Robbie Robertsons Memoiren Testimony aus dem Jahr 2017.

The Band was an Canadian-American treasure... und dies ist ihre Geschichte aus Robbie Robertsons Sicht. Traurigerweise müssen wir nun in…

I love how this is framed as "Robbie Robertson tells HIS side of the story" when he has been telling his side of the story and pushing it as the 100% true narrative of The Band since 1976.

Before I continue, let me first say this is an exceptionally well-made documentary. The filmmakers did an excellent job of capturing the history and magic of The Band and they should be commended for that. I absolutely loved watching it as a film. My gripes, continued below, are not with them.

Robbie's approach to this feels like one long apology to Levon Helm in which he never once apologizes or actually admits any part in their falling out. Instead, it is Robbie…

It's been a bad week for film and music fans. It began with the death of legendary filmmaker William Friedkin on August 7th, and got even worse with the deaths of both Sixto Rodriguez on the 8th, and then Robbie Robertson on the 9th.

Friedkin was a one-of-a-kind controversy magnet, a man who did things his own way, was a fabulous orator, and a wonderful director who left a legacy few could match.

Sixto Rodriguez was someone I had no idea about until Malik Bendjelloul's stunning documentary, Searching for Sugar Man, one of my favourite ever documentaries, that introduced me to a mysterious and mercurial musician that was so humble, so unassuming, but an incredibly talented songwriter and performer.

Which…