Spirit Unforgettable
| Spirit Unforgettable | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Pete McCormack |
| Produced by |
Pete McCormack Ben Murray |
| Starring | Spirit of the West |
| Music by | Schaun Tozer |
| Cinematography | Ian Kerr |
| Edited by | Tony Kent |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Spirit Unforgettable is a Canadian documentary film, which premiered at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2016.[1] Directed by Pete McCormack,[2] the film profiles the Canadian folk rock band Spirit of the West in preparation for a 2015 concert at Massey Hall, as part of their farewell tour following lead singer John Mann's diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.[3]
At the time of the Massey Hall concert, it was possible but not definitive that due to Mann's cognitive decline, the show may have become the band's last-ever concert performance.[2] The band did, however, ultimately perform a few more times following the show, most notably for a three-night series of finale performances at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom in April 2016.[4] The film also includes Mann's wife Jill Daum, an actress and playwright whose own theatrical play about Alzheimer's, Forget About Tomorrow, had its theatrical premiere in fall 2015.[4] Musician Paul Hyde also contributes to the film's soundtrack, performing a rendition of a song, "I Miss My Mind the Most", which Mann wrote about his experience.[5]
McCormack, a longtime friend of the band, invested $100,000 of his own money in the film up front, telling The Globe and Mail that "I had to go and dive in right away … funding or no funding, because of the disease."[6] The film did later secure funding, including a completion grant from the Shaw Media/Hot Docs Fund.[7]
Many critics have singled out the band's live performance of their signature song "Home for a Rest" near the end of the film, which saw the entire audience begin to sing along the moment Mann had a slip in remembering the lyrics, as its life-affirming emotional climax.[1][8]
The film aired on HBO Canada on July 1, 2016.[9]
Awards
At the Vancouver International Film Festival in October 2016, Spirit Unforgettable won the award for Most Popular Canadian Documentary (based on audience balloting).[10][11]
References
- 1 2 "Spirit Unforgettable". NOW, April 26, 2016.
- 1 2 "'Unforgettable' Spirit Of The West documentary". Toronto Sun, April 29, 2016.
- ↑ "In Spirit Unforgettable, early onset Alzheimer’s doesn’t stop Spirit of the West". Chart Attack, May 5, 2016.
- 1 2 "The unforgettable spirit of Spirit of the West". Q, May 2, 2016.
- ↑ "Legacy of John Mann, Spirit of the West lovingly told in poignant documentary". Vancouver Sun, October 6, 2016.
- ↑ "With front man John Mann battling early-onset Alzheimer’s, Spirit of the West prepares for its final gig". The Globe and Mail, April 13, 2016.
- ↑ "Shaw Media-Hot Docs invests $120K across 5 projects". Playback, September 2, 2015.
- ↑ "Review: ‘Spirit Unforgettable’". POV Magazine, April 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Intimate documentary explores Spirit of the West singer's journey with Alzheimer's". CTV News, June 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Documentary on Spirit of the West singer wins VIFF award". The Globe and Mail, October 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Maudie Wins Coveted VIFF Super Channel People's Choice Award" (Press release). Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.