NZIFF Film Review: "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band" (2019).

From executive producers Martin Scorsese, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard comes Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band. This Canadian documentary film, directed by Daniel Roher and based in part on Robertson's 2017 memoir Testimony. The film is a confessional, cautionary, and occasionally humorous tale of Robertson's young life and the creation of one of the most enduring groups in the history of popular music, The Band.

Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm would go on to form the roots rock group, The Band. Between 1958 and 1963, they originally formed as The Hawks, a backing band for rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins. In 1964, they separated from Hawkins, after which they toured and released a few singles as Levon and the Hawks and the Canadian Squires. In the mid-1960s they gained recognition backing Bob Dylan, and the 1966 tour was notable as Dylan’s first with an electric band. After leaving Dylan and changing their name to the Band, and with help from Dylan and his manager, they moved to Saugerties, New York and released several albums to critical and popular acclaim. Their influence on several generations of musicians has been substantial. Dylan continued to collaborate with the Band over the course of their career, including a joint 1974 tour. In 1976, the original configuration of The Band ended its touring career with an elaborate performance at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, California, that featured numerous musical celebrities of the era. This performance was filmed for Scorsese's 1978 documentary The Last Waltz. Although the members of the group intended to continue working on studio projects, they drifted apart after the release of Islands in March 1977. The Band resumed touring in 1983 without Robertson, who had found success with a solo career and as a Hollywood music producer. As a result of their diminished popularity, they performed in theaters and clubs as headliners and took support slots in larger venues for onetime peers such as the Grateful Dead and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Following a 1986 concert, Manuel committed suicide in his hotel room. The remaining three members continued to tour and record albums with a succession of musicians filling Manuel's and Robertson's roles. The final configuration of the group included Richard Bell, Randy Ciarlante, and Jim Weider. In 1999, Danko died of heart failure, after which the group broke up for good. In 1998, Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer and was unable to sing for several years but he eventually regained the use of his voice. He continued to perform and released several albums until he died in 2012.

The great thing about Once Were Brothers is that the documentary enables a new-found respect and regard for an incredibly energetic and creative band that recognize their strength as the sum of their talented parts. Conveying information and insight without artifice, the film uses every frame to wittily and touchingly convey a story that had yet to be properly told -- about a band and their tumultuous journey.

Simon says Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band receives:

Also, see my NZIFF review for The Last Wave.