This feature-length documentary explores the life of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, Hallelujah.
Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist Leonard Cohen’s intriguing life has been chronicled in several films over the years. But Emmy-award-winning filmmakers Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine recognized the potential of making another feature-length documentary, but this one focused on a single song; “Hallelujah.” However, using the word “song” does not do justice to the composition. For his fans, “Hallelujah” is spiritual, more a hymn than a casual tune.
After seeing Leonard Cohen sing “Hallelujah” in California during his final world tour, Geller and Goldfine felt the life-changing energy emanating from his performance. And after reading the book ‘The Holy or the Broken’ by Alan Light, they realized the potential for making a documentary based on a particular song.
“Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song” is structured straightforwardly and engagingly; the doc revolves around the many versions of Cohen’s best-known song and interviews with an array of singers, producers, and friends who knew him best. Ironically, the only person the team did not interview was Cohen himself. According to the press notes, since 2014, Cohen was no longer granting interviews, so it was essential for the filmmakers to obtain his blessing. His manager Robert Kory made that possible and granted access to the storied notebooks denoting the evolution of the storied song.
The portrait of Cohen that materializes is well-balanced and often revealing, especially his quest for spirituality. Although born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Quebec, he retreated to the Mt. Baldy Zen Center near Los Angeles in 1994 and was ordained as a Zen Buddhist monk. In an interview on television, however, he reveals that he considered changing his name and oddly selects “September” as his first name. In his defense, his spiritual counselor reveals the significance of the word “September” from the Talmud.
The film spends excessive time on the singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley’s version of “Hallelujah.” Besides Buckley, the film explores the song covered by countless singers, including Bob Dylan, John Cale, Brandi Carlile, and Rufus Wainwright. And although Cale’s rendition appeared in the film “Shrek,” Wainwright reaped the most benefit as his version appeared on the movie’s soundtrack album. K.D. lang sang the most passionate version at Cohen’s memorial service in 2016.
More than just a biography, “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song” is an authentic tribute to the unique singer/songwriter whose voice plays second fiddle to his words. His ardent fans may not learn much but will most certainly enjoy hearing the voice that had a tremendous influence on the music scene spanning decades. That sounds like a great way to spend an evening in a cool, dark theater.
Now playing at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, and at the Angelika in Plano Friday, August 5th
