Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Joan Baez, known both for her folk music and her activism, has a darkness in her.
That darkness has followed her for her entire life, haunting her even through her illustrious career. But did anyone know of her troubles? Directors Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle and Karen O’Connor took the task of telling her story, pulling back the veil on this talented, tormented woman.
The documentary gives a thorough examination of her life, from her seemingly happy childhood with her mother, father and two sisters to her musical career, her relationships throughout the years, and her journey to unlocking the memory of past traumatic experiences with her family.
Utilizing home video footage, therapy tape recordings, journal entries and drawings, the documentary often feels like a therapy session itself, revealing some deeply intimate parts of Baez’s life. Although, given the span of time in which the footage was filmed, it’s no wonder that the filmmakers got so much honesty from her. Both Joan’s sister, Pauline, and her mother appear in footage (and her father’s voice), her mother having died in 2013 and her sister in 2016, and the film is framed by Baez’s final tour in 2018.
The tour is a fascinating juxtaposition with the rest of her life. As she worries that her voice isn’t what it used to be, we see that little bit of darkness creeping in and are able to see, scene by scene, what might influence the person she is today. It makes for a very well crafted dance of memories and information, and a sharpened image of who Baez really is.
It’s a side of Joan Baez that may never have been seen before. What a beautiful film—thoughtful and striving to connect the dots in as respectful a way as possible. You won’t want to miss this film when it hits Midtown Cinema this October.
Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.
October Events At Midtown Cinema
Film Openings
Sept. 29, “Stop Making Sense” (1984)
Sept. 29, “Flora and Son”
Oct. 6, “Exorcist: Believer”
Oct. 6, “Strange Way of Life”
Oct. 13, “Joan Baez: I Am a Noise”
Oct. 13, “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour”
Oct. 20, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Famous Movie Dates Series
“Mean Girls” (2004)
Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Down in Front! comedy riffing
10th Anniversary Party &
“Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday” (1993)
Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Hocus Pocus” (1993)
Friday, Oct. 20 at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
“Coraline” (2009)
Saturday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
Sunday Doc Series
“Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror” (2019)
Sunday, Oct. 1 at 5:30 p.m.
“In Search of Darkness: A Journey into Iconic ’80s Horror” (2019)
Sunday, Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
CINEM-Aaah! Series
“All Your Friends Are Dead” (2022)
w/Director TalkBack
Friday, Oct. 6 at 9:30 p.m.
“Friday the 13th” (1980)
Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 24 & Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
“A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984)
Friday, Oct. 6 at 9:45 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 9:45 p.m.
“Trick ‘r Treat” (2007)
Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
“Get Out” (2017)
Sunday, Oct. 8 & Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7:15 p.m.
“The Devil’s Rejects” (2005)
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9:30 p.m.
“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 9:45 p.m.
Sunday, Oct.15 at 8:30 p.m.
“Cybergrime Festival 2023”
Horror anthology from queer filmmakers
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22 at 8:30 p.m.
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. & 10 p.m.
“Halloween” (1978)
Tuesday, Oct. 24 & Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:15 p.m.
“Nosferatu” (1929)
w/live score by Nick Werner
Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
“It Follows” (2015)
Friday, Oct. 27 at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8:30 p.m.
“Chucky” Double Feature
Sunday, Oct. 22
“Child’s Play” (1988), 6:30 p.m.
“Bride of Chucky” (1998), 8:20 p.m.
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