
In the unconventional biographical film “A Complete Unknown,” portrayed by an actor who might or might not be a true representation of Bob Dylan, there is a character who exhibits a rather unpleasant demeanor. This individual arrives in New York City at age 19, having traveled by hitchhiking and carrying only a backpack and guitar. His immediate goal is to find his role model, Woody Guthrie. He expresses his desire to meet Guthrie, seeking inspiration, or as he puts it, “a spark.” However, instead of finding Guthrie in New York, he locates him in a hospital in New Jersey, battling Huntington’s disease and unable to speak. The young visitor is respectful but insistent on his quest for inspiration. He also encounters Pete Seeger, a well-respected and humble folk singer who allows the polite yet awkward kid to stay at his home when he realizes the youngster has nowhere else to go. This newcomer nearly enters the family’s modest, welcoming house without removing his shoes. Soon after, he crosses paths with Joan Baez, whose fame he starts to associate himself with, albeit subconsciously. He then meets Sylvie Russo, a smart folk music enthusiast, and manages to win her affection. Unfortunately, he goes on to mistreat both women. As people begin to listen to him perform—a distinctive, dissonant sound that seems to crack the earth—he starts receiving all the recognition he yearned for when he left Robert Zimmerman behind in Hibbing, Minnesota.