AJ Schnack directed this beautiful, peaceful documentary about Kurt Cobain using audio tapes from interviews that Michael Azerrad held with him.
No photos are seen of Kurt, of Nirvana or music of Nirvana, the photography is primarily places and haunts Kurt Cobain used to live, see and explore.
I thought this piece played at the beginning of the film 'Benjamin Gibbard & Steve Fisk - Overture' was so somber, setting the mood of Cobain and following aerial camera over Washington, setting the scene of Cobain's home. Like Cobain was a spirit flying over his home, the music setting the mood of melancholia.
I think the fact that the film includes no footage or photographs of Cobain speaks a certain kind of truth to him. Cobain although being famous for his music, was such a great character and was followed, documented and filmed but his voice and his music alone conveyed a truth to them that wasn't noticeable when just being filmed. His actions speak lies but without his famous face and style being in the film, his words seems more real and enables you to imagine Cobain and his life without referring back to his image on screen. The most noticeable thing about the film is that we hear him almost speaking his own words rather than someone else talking about who he was.
The soundtrack is an ambient one that helps to move along the cinematic images showing places of his childhood, to the streets of Seattle where he found his fame. This helps to make the watcher feel emotional closer to what Cobain is saying and lets you easily visualise the places from his life without trying to imagine for yourself, another factor that helps you to see some truth to him. The fact that the director has chosen not to use any music of Nirvana's is very striking but again, helps the viewer to see the more human side of him, almost forgetting his rock persona and let you experience the 'real' Kurt Cobain.
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