Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008)

When people ask her how does it feel to be a rock icon? Patti Smith says she always thinks of Mount Rushmore. Twelve years in the making, artist/photographer Steven Sebring's directorial debut takes a lyrical, stream-of-consciousness approach that is exactly right in his affecting portrait of the rock 'n' roll Joan of Arc (Stephen Holden, The NY Times) who can bring a crowd of devotees to their feet chanting Glor-i-a! as effectively as she can share her pain over the early death of her husband, Fred (Sonic) Smith and her brother, and the loss of her close friend Robert Mapplethorpe and of other artists she admires (Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, William S. Burroughs). Everyone knows that Patti Smith's music, poetry and politics are fearless, funny, raw and original. But Sebring also captures her physical presence - her gamine beauty - and a charming, self-effacing style that will take you by surprise and leave you deeply moved. More »

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