Reviewed by Michael Edwards
Stars Lou Reed, Fernando Saunders, Sharon Jones,Antony Hegarty, Emmanuelle Seigner
Produced by Jon Kilik, Ann Ruark & Tom Sarig
Original Music by Lou Reed
Certification UK 12A
Runtime 85 minutes
Directed by Julian Schnabel
It's tough to know what to say about a film like this. Lou Reed is a legend, and few would argue about his well-earned place in the music hall of fame. But Berlin is and always had been his dirty little secret, his Macbeth if you will. Recorded in 1973 and released soon after, the album was not only a commercial flop but was derided as depressing and completely impossible to listen to. Based on the themes of jealousy, rage and loss embodied largely in a single character (Caroline), the album is certainly not the most accessible ever made but Julian Schnabel viewed the piece as Reed's master work and, holding it in such high esteem, he resolved to have the album performed for the first time since its release. In 2006 he got his wish.
For five nights in Brooklyn the album was performed in front of a meticulously designed set (envisioned by Julian Schnabel) and accompanied by video footage created by the director's daughter Lola. The atmosphere is tense, crackling with artistic vibrancy and full of a strange combination of electric anticipation and an enveloping world of despair played out through Reed's hauntingly melancholic opus. There is little stage chat and the audience stands quietly for the most part, absorbed in the dark place the music creates and at the same time, no doubt, mesmerized by the unique spectacle.
A truly unique musical event that, even for those who aren't fans of Lou Reed, has a really special feeling. You know this is of those seminal events. Nonetheless, it is only fair to warn you (even if it seems a little obvious) this is a film for those who love Lou Reed and/or the spectacle of music legends in action. It's not the stadium rock of your big showboaters, nor a tragically rare appearance by one of the many legends who died too young, but it is the visceral vindication of a brave experiment by a dedicated servant of the audio arts.