Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008)

An intimate portrait of poet, painter, musician and singer Patti Smith that mirrors the essence of the artist herself.

Director:

Steven Sebring

Stars:

Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Oliver Ray

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Patti Smith	...	Herself: vocals and clarinet
Lenny Kaye	...	Himself: guitar
Oliver Ray	...	Himself: guitar
Tony Shanahan	...	Himself: bass and vocals
Jay Dee Daugherty	...	Himself: drums
Jackson Smith	...	Himself
Jesse Smith	...	Himself
Tom Verlaine	...	Himself
Sam Shepard	...	Himself
Philip Glass	...	Himself
Benjamin Smoke	...	Himself
Flea	...	Himself

Storyline

An intimate portrait of poet, painter, musician and singer Patti Smith that mirrors the essence of the artist herself.

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Plot Keywords:

actress name in title | patti smith character | five word title | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Palm Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 April 2008 (France)

Also Known As:

Untitled Patti Smith Project

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,703, 15 August 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$30,918, 17 August 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clean Socks, Thirteen / WNET

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was created over 11 years.

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Quotes

Patti Smith: It's really funny when people ask you about that - How does it feel to be a rock icon? When they say that, I always think of Mt. Rushmore.

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Connections

References Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back (1967)

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Soundtracks

Cartwheels
Written by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye
Performed by Patti Smith
Courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment

User Reviews

Not a Great Documentary, or Even a Great Music Film

Patti Smith: Dream of Life is a frankly disappointing documentary which gives little real insight into its subject. Made by Patti Smith herself, the film tends to gloss over large sections of her life, without giving viewers an understanding of their significance. Even more annoyingly, given that its musical focus, it is largely lacking in concert footage.

For example, although the film mentions Smith's friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe, it fails to delve into what influence he might have had on Smith's artistry. Given that this case represented two of the major artists of the twentieth century living together, one would have thought this would merit a sustained discussion.

The lack of musical footage is also glaring. In the end, we are interested in Smith not because of her life or opinions, but because of her music. That should have been a far greater element within the piece.

Ultimately, those who want to learn more about Patti Smith would be better off seeking out her memoir, or finding a good interview with her.