By setting off his epic eulogy with a quote by David Bowie about Nietzsche and modern society’s need for substitute Gods in whose image they can cast themselves, director Brett Morgen leaves little doubt as to how he sees – and wants the audience to perceive – the sole subject of his over two hours long rock ’n’ roll rampage: a quasi-divine being exuding and encompassing a chaotic creativity. The US-American documentary director translates the multi-talented artist’s expressive energy into a mesmerizing maelstrom of concert recordings, video clips, TV snippets, interview excerpts, movie scenes, photo series, paintings and pulsating psychedelic colors.
While brilliantly remastered songs and vibrant visuals worshipping the iconic styles of the incredibly versatile musician (also actor, writer, sculptor, painter) are undeniably captivating, they are also frustratingly capricious. The individual behind the ever evolving public persona all but disappears behind the myriads of iridescent images. There is little to no mention of his first marriage, kids, personal background, rise to fame, illness and death, As if Ziggy Stardust really was that extraterrestrial entity, landing on earth and disappearing into space: a musical messiah whose life and legacy are drowned out by an outsized outsider opera more interested in idolatry than information.
- OT: Moonage Daydream
- Director: Brett Morgen
- Screenplay: Brett Morgen
- Country: USA
- Year: 2022
- Running Time: 140 min.
- Cast: David Bowie
- Release date: 15.09.2022
- Image © Universal