Lomax the Songhunter (2004)

Director:

Rogier Kappers

Writer:

Rogier Kappers

Stars:

Peter Kennedy, Alan Lomax, Peggy Seeger

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Kennedy
Alan Lomax	...	As himself
Peggy Seeger

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

folk music

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Taglines:

discover the music and share his passion

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [us]

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 2005 (Germany)

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

€300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

MM Film

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Good homage but too much voyeurism

Of course Alan Lomax deserves to be praised for his contributions to American culture. Of course he had some VERY serious flaws, and this show politely indicates some of them. He has also been the subject of very unfair criticism, which the director wisely avoids.

However, I found it immensely disturbing how much footage was devoted to seeing Alan Lomax as he was shortly before he died, with his mind no longer what it had been. For example, the opening shot of his daughter reading his own words to him was painfully gratuitous. He obviously couldn't understand what was going on, but the camera lingered (dare I say, stared?) on him, and far too often throughout the film. If these scenes could be edited out, it would be worth a 9, maybe even 10.

There is much that is good here, though. I particularly liked the scenes where the crew visit people Lomax had recorded many years before in Spain and Italy. And the description of Cantometrics was easy to follow, if a bit simplistic. Maybe something on the Global Jukebox, his last big project?