Documentary on 'the Making of Bitter Tears' in Amsterdam

 

To be screened in Amsterdam, 18-29 November.

And now a post about a documentary based on a book, that inspired re-interpreting the album the book was based up on.

Are you still following me ? And how is Joe Henry involved in this ?

Let me explain, it will all come clear quickly.

Joe Henry produced the album : Look again to the wind : 'Johnny Cash's Bitter tears revisited'. (2014) This album is a re-interpretation of Johnny Cash's album Bitter Tears.
Among the artists on that album are Emmylou Harris, Steve Earl, The Milk Carton Kids,...

The original 'Bitter Tears'(1964) was a concept album  where Cash concentrated on the harsh and unfair treatment of the indigenous peoples of  North America.

The history of that album is written in  Antonio d'Ambrosio's book entitled : A heartbeat and a guitar : Johnny Cash and the making of Bitter Tears.

And now Antonio d'Ambrosio continued working on this history and made a documentary.
We're still here : Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited

The film is based on Antonino D’Ambrosio's acclaimed book A Heartbeat and a Guitar: Johnny Cash and the Making of Bitter Tears, The book tells the astonishing story behind Cash’s little known concept album and his unique collaboration with unknown folk artist Peter Lafarge. With this still largely unknown recording, Cash placed himself in the middle of the fervent social upheavals gripping the nation at the time. Cash faced censorship and an angry backlash from radio stations, DJs, and fans, for speaking out on behalf of Native people on "Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian." He decided to fight back. The book inspired Sony Masterworks to reimagine Cash’s highly controversial 1964 record on its 50th anniversary that included musicians Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Norman Blake, Nancy Blake, Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, Joe Henry and Rhiannon Giddens, have breathed new life into Cash’s visionary record, which came out four years before the American Indian Movement took over Alcatraz, four years before Cash performed at Folsom and six years before he recorded “Man in Black.” D'Ambrosio chronicled all of this in a new documentary that unfolds as a meditative mystery called We’re Still Here: Johnny Cash’s BitterTears Revisited.

(source)

We're Still Here: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited

- See more at: https://www.idfa.nl/industry/festival/program-sections-awards/music-documentary.aspx#sthash.P85cwKSb.dpuf

Among the artists featured in this film, are also the artists on the Joe Henry produced 'Bitter tears revisited'.

I have no idea if Joe will be seen in the film, or if he was involved in it more personally,  but  this documentary, and that album are connected to each other in some way I think.

Read more about the book and album on the Joe Henry Blog.


This documentary will be screened at the Amsterdam IDFA documentary festival (November 18-29) The screening schedule will be released on November 5th.

Edit :
Screenings on November 20, 22, 24, 25 and 28.

Screenshot :