neil young
Shakey Pictures
Presents
A Musical Novel
a Film by Neil Young
Greendale
Directed by Bernard Shakey
After a successful theatrical run in over 40 North American cities, Neil Young's Greendale is released on DVD. In addition to the Greendale film, the DVD comes with the documentary The Making of Greendale, which contains interviews with Neil and the cast plus behind the scenes footage. Additional extras include a live performance of "Be the Rain," full lyrics of all ten songs, and a complete Neil Young discography.
Greendale, arguably Young's crowning achievement, is a multi-media mosaic consisting of the music CD, live concert production, feature film, DVD's of Neil's solo acoustic performance of Greendale in Ireland and of Inside Greendale which captures Young and Crazy Horse recording the CD and now the DVD of the recently released, critically lauded feature film. A big Greendale picture book with extensive text has also been published (see here).
In Greendale, Neil Young has made whatsome call a musical novel, telling the story of a three generational family, a cop's inadvertent murder and the sociopolitical evolution of a girl named Sun Green.
Not a concert film, Young directed actors on locations on his Northern California home turf to create his Greendale, a rural town microcosm of a world in crisis. He shot the film himself on a German Super 8 underwater camera he loves. Then it was blown up to 35mm, giving the film a rough-hewn, almost Seurat-like look.
Greendale is a humanist fable told through ten interlocking songs performed by Young, who never appears in the film, but whose distinctive voice is heard singing the story and the dialogue of his lip-synching actors.
In reviewing the concert, Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, notes Greendale is stuffed with ideas, in many ways a summation of everything Young has stood for in his fascinating career: the nurturing strength of family, respect for elders, the sacredness of nature and youth, the corrupt invasiveness of political and economic institutions, and the power of a really loud guitar to cut through all the distractions.
What the critics have said about GREENDALE:
"Part Thornton Wilder. Part John Lennon" --Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times
"Hauntingly memorable." --Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
"One of the most potent mergers of music and film that rock has ever produced! A more successful and complete artistic vision than 99% of even the most ambitious videos aired on MTV or VH1. BRAVO, NEIL. LONG MAY YOU RUN!" -Jim Derogatis, Chicago Sun-Times
"Charming and moving - very likely the peak of his career thus far. One must hand it to Young for his ambitious achievement. Greendale grows richer the more one visits it. HALLELUJAH FOR A TRULY INDEPENDENT FILM!" -Gregory Weinkauf, New Times
"Wondrously eccentric." -A.O. Scott, New York Times
"MASTERPIECE! Those who tumble into Young's allusive, passionately political fable are in for an adventure." -Ray Pride, New City Times, Chicago
"A LOW-FI MASTERPIECE! The perfect marriage of music and images." -Glenn Whipp, LA Daily News
"Greendale is somewhere between the true-believer sincerity of John Sayles and the oddball eeriness of David Lynch. If film had feedback, it would look like this." --Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
"I loved this film so honest, spontaneous and unique. Neil Young is a genius." -Cynthia Parsons, In Style Magazine
"A TRIUMPH! Splendiferously primitive." -J. Hoberman, Village Voice
"A topical film in a year in which most American directors remain allergic to presenting a political point of view." -Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
"Poignant and heartbreaking! Youngís voice is a marvel. Sitting through "Greendale" in a Dolby-equipped theater, at high volume with bone-penetrating bass, is an ideal way for Young fans to experience the rustic grandeur of the masterís latest album, a serious achievement." - Joe Brown, SF Chronicle
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