Gone too soon, an unsettled life finds focus in ‘It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley’

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Lives cut tragically short, filled with accomplishment and potential, often leave a lingering sense of unrest behind. It’s unfortunate that youth doesn’t naturally evolve but instead seems to be perpetually stuck in some cases. The loss of the late musician Jeff Buckley, who possessed an intensely romantic spirit, striking looks, and a voice capable of sending shivers down one’s spine, remains deeply felt following his drowning at age 30 in 1997. With each revisit to his limited discography, the sorrow associated with his untimely demise continues to flare up anew.

Life can often seem more complex than what our longing hearts might expect, even from a voice that evoked both heaven and the depths of despair. One captivating aspect of the documentary “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” is its challenge to the common notion of an unavoidable destiny. Instead, it delves into the highs and lows of a talented artist’s journey. Director Amy Berg encourages us to view Buckley as a real-life figure rather than a predestined tragic icon.

The outcome offers a heartfelt, lively, and truthful portrayal: it provides us a chance to understand the complex, tempestuous Buckley as seen by those who truly knew him and valued him. Additionally, snippets of footage, numerous writings, and fragments of voice recordings introduce us to someone compassionate yet elusive, driven yet self-doubting, a child of his parents and an individual in his own right, particularly when unexpected fame failed to provide the correct lens for self-discovery.

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The documentary often features archival footage set against a softly fuzzy and vintage film backdrop, which gives a sense of the raw and tumultuous life that Buckley experienced as a single mother raised in Anaheim. His profound emotional distance from his absent father, renowned folk-poet Tim Buckley (remember the matchbook Jeff kept), is also evident. New York’s East Village marked a significant turning point, where Buckley was deeply influenced by a diverse range of artists such as Nina Simone, Edith Piaf, Led Zeppelin, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. These influences melded together to create a unique post-grunge emotional sound, characterized by his extraordinary vocal talent.

Despite the typical music documentary elements following Buckley’s record-label discovery, such as tour footage, media coverage, and snippets of performances, the filmmaker, Berg, strategically focuses on the portrayal of Buckley’s inner life, revealing intimate details through significant individuals. These include Buckley’s mother, Mary Guibert, romantic confidants like artist Rebecca Moore and musician Joan Wasser, as well as bandmates like Michael Tighe. Berg ensures these interviewees are within the camera’s close range, allowing viewers to cherish their recollections as precious personal mementos that remain poignant even after all these years.

Fans may desire a deeper analysis of the music, but it seems intentional given the extensive coverage it already has, and less is more in this case. Similarly, the lack of typical A-list accolades is notable. The worldwide acclaim for his debut album “Grace,” which features his iconic version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and attracted admiration from stars like Dylan, Bowie, McCartney, and even his idol Robert Plant, certainly brought Buckley into the limelight. However, Berg maintains a perspective that aligns with Buckley’s complex feelings towards fame – its pressures, absurdities, and eventual push towards Memphis in search of solace to begin a second album that remained unfinished.

The final chapter is skillfully addressed, with Berg carefully conveying that his loved ones perceive his death as an accident, not suicide. The movie’s details are compelling and leave no doubt about this interpretation. However, the circumstances remain deeply sad, as they often do. The documentary “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” may not completely resolve the confusion surrounding the premature demise of troubled individuals, but it provides a candid exploration that adds depth to a one-album prodigy. This analysis is likely to encourage repeated viewings, further enhancing its impact.

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2025-08-09 01:31