Eigentlich ist Bird On a Wire mehr eine Art Musik-Film oder Tournee-Dokumentation. Der in den 70er Jahren bei uns im Kino gelaufene Konzert- und Tournee-Film wurde 2010 komplett erneuert und ergänzt und kam auf DVD und Blu Ray heraus. Auf 3 Sat und in diversen dritten Programmen (mdr) lief er anlässlich Cohens 80. Geburtstag 2014. Hin und wieder läuft der von Tony Palmer umgesetzte Film in den dritten Programmen noch immer. Absolut sehenswert und mit deutschen Untertiteln. 106 Minuten lang. Fantastische Bilder, fantastisch eingefangen die Melancholie, die auch hinter der Bühne und unterwegs, während einer Tournee eingefangen wurde.

Tony Palmer directs this film documenting Leonard Cohen’s 1972 ‚Bird On a Wire‘ tour.

Originally made in 1972 and directed by celebrated British filmmaker Tony Palmer, Bird on a Wire follows Leonard Cohen on his 1972 European tour and contains 17 classic performances, four poems and tour footage.

Using a recently discovered dubbing track of the film as a guide, Tony Palmer salvaged the cans of damaged film that were found by Frank Zappa’s manager, Herb Cohen, in a Hollywood warehouse and edited some of the footage into this first-ever authorized release of Leonard Cohen ‚Bird on a Wire‘, which tells the story of Cohen s 20-city European tour that began in Dublin on March 18th 1972 and ended on April 21st in Jerusalem.

From Leonard’s frustration with the malfunctioning speakers that ravaged the tour, to his story of how he lost the rights to ‚Suzanne‘, to his thoughts on being Jewish, this documentary gives an intimate portrait of life on the road, as well as of Cohen himself.

Palmer splices Vietnam War footage and home movies from Cohen’s childhood into the performance footage, creating a powerful testament to the singer’s unique fusion of poetry and politics.

DVD Extras

Digipack

Booklet

Postcard

Reproduction of the original film poster.

Synopsis

On March 18th 1972, Leonard Cohen began a 20-city European tour, beginning in Dublin and ending in Jerusalem on April 21st. Other cities included London at the Royal Albert Hall, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin and Tel Aviv. This film is an impression of what happened during that tour.

Music includes performances of:
– Avalanche
– Suzanne
– Tonight Will Be Fine
– Passing Through
– Sisters Of Mercy
– Who By Fire?
– Story Of Isaac
– One Of Us Can’t Be Wrong
– The Partisan
– Chelsea Hotel
– Nancy
– Famous Blue Raincoat
– Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye
– So Long, Marianne
– Bird On A Wire