About A Son (2006)-Eryn Mulloy
About A Son
By Eryn Mulloy
I was able to catch the Seattle International Film Festival premier of About
A Son : Kurt Cobain when I was in town in June. The film is supposed to be
of unheard audio interviews and interview sessions from the "Come As You
Are" book, by Michael Azzerad, which is known as Kurt’s most trusted
journalist in his time. As a long time fan, I defiantly wanted to check this
out, not really knowing what to expect, and really had the impression it was
not going to be a big deal. I was pretty sure I may have herd a lot of the
interviews anyway, or read them at one point I thought.
My friend and I got there about a half an hour before show time. The line
was wrapped around the Neptune Theatre and down the block. This was also the
one and only showing of the film. Once the line started to move, it did
rather quickly. There was no promotional posters or booklets handed out for
the film. We rushed inside to get a good seat. The main floor was mostly
reserved for Film Festival Members, so most good seats where not available
there. We sat up on the balcony with a great view of the screen. I don’t
think I ever watched a film from a balcony before. There was defiantly a lot
of people there, if not sold out. Before the film started the director
A.JSchnack came to the front and gave a brief introduction to the
film. He said he filmed it right in the state of Washington, in three cities,
which where Aberdeen, Olympia, and Seattle. He also said he was quite proud of his work
with it, and enjoyed shooting the footage. He also told the story that when
it premiered in Toronto’s Film Festival, he cried at the end.
The lights went out, and the film started. It begun with the first five
minutes or so, of just soft music, with footage panning over the top of a
foggy evergreen tree forest at dawn. When Kurt’s voice started to speak, I
almost didn’t recognize it. It was clear , low and confidant. He told
stories of his childhood, and how he used to have to go to the lumber yard
on Saturday’s with his dad, and that was what his dad has considered
spending quality time with Kurt. Then also of the time when he would steal
his mom’s pot and replaced it with basil , and that eventually she just had
a bag of basil in her jewelry box. He spoke about how happy he was as a
child, and then how his parents divorced really effected him. As he told
these stories, shots of Aberdeen where displayed on the screen. But with an
artist twist, and odd angels.
They would also show people and up close faces of people of that town today.
After his stories of adolescence, the film then went to the second chapter
of Olympia, where Kurt told stories about how good Tracy (his girlfriend at
the time) was to him, letting him stay at her apartment and not make him
work. And then also telling the story of how he thought a turtle made a
stupid pet, and that he liked cats, because of their attitude. Then the film
made it to its last chapter; Seattle. Kurt spoke of how he does like heroin
and uses it to self medicate his stomach problems. But then would also speak
stories of past tense heroin use. He also speaks of how he does have
scoliosis and that playing guitar made it much worse. He also makes about
three to four suicide references, in saying things like " Yeah I was ready
to blow my head off my stomach hurt so bad," or " I just wanted to kill
myself". Which was obviously so haunting to hear it, from his mouth, and so
often. He said thou during when he moved to Seattle, his stomach was not
bothering him as much. He also noted he had a $400 a day heroin habit during
this time.
He talked good and bad about Dave, Krist, and Courtney. He would say how
Krist always demanded to be the center of attention in social gatherings,
but always was worried about him, and always there for him in his worst
times. He spoke of how he loved Courtney’s spontaneity and confidence, and
noted his first impression of her was that she looked like Nancy Spungen. He
also admitted he wanted to quit Nirvana a few times, and was happy to come
home off his European tour because he was miserable at that time.
Music that Kurt would have liked, is the best way to describe it would play
in between sound clips. Songs from Iggy & the stooges, The Breeders,
Screaming Trees, Queen, Mudhoney, R.E.M and many more. The interviews where
both from in person sessions and over the phone. Most done at Kurt’s house
in Seattle between dawn and midnight in his kitchen, which is the main
publicity photo you see, of the windows with the three sections, looking
over the water at sunset.
The film ended with Kurt telling how he is happy with his life, and loves
having his family. That his family is most important to him. The last
interview you hear is a conversation between Kurt and Courtney;
"Kurt can you bring up a bottle for the baby when your done"
"Sure, okay"
"Don’t forget"
"I won’t"
Then ends with a telephone conversation of Kurt saying bye to Michael and
Michael saying bye to Kurt.
Charles Peterson supplied many of his famous photos for the film, but only
shown when Kurt was actually talking about the person. Photos of Kurt where
not shown of him until the very end of the film when it was playing the
conversation of him talking to Courtney. Which I thought was a very nice
touch. Because after just listening to this voice for an hour, it makes you
really want to see this person again who you are listening so close to, and
learning from.
The soundtrack was defiantly very impressive, put together nicely and I
enjoyed it.
The film would not be what it was with out those shots of the cities, and
that music. It really connects it all, and provided the visionary needed for
the audio.
The interviews are raw and unapologetic. Kurt didn’t want to speak about his
personal life, but already said to much in the end. Seeing this film helps
you understand Kurt as a person with troubles and not as the flawless icon
we have made him to be.
The audience clapped as the film ended and the lights turned on.
There was a Q & A after the film, in which Michael Azzerad, A. J Schnack,
Charles Peterson, Steve Fisk (soundtrack), and Benjamin Gibbard
(soundtrack), came up front of the theatre. Some questions asked and
answered where if Courtney, Krist or Dave had any problems with making the
film, and they said no and they all knew about it. And Michael told the
story of the time he went to go do his first interview with Kurt at their
house. Where Courtney answered the door, offering him grapes, and Michael
was more nervous about meeting Kurt because not that he was a rock star, but
he had never known anyone who was a heroin addict. He said he done a few of
the interviews where Kurt was just laying in bed, and Michael was sitting on
the bedside. The audience asked why did he think Kurt trusted Michael so
much, and he said because he thought they had so much in common. Also asked
was how they were able get so much great music into the film, and it was
answered that all the artist where really supportive of it and had no
problems with letting this film use their songs.
It was so great to see those involved with the film, and seeing it in
Seattle of all places. It really gave you the home town feeling, that
Seattle does still loves their Kurt Cobain.