Watch “Shine a Light” from The Stones and Martin Scorcese
I still remember how much controversy it caused when the Rolling Stones show was first announced and expected to take place in Ukraine at Kyiv’s Olympic Stadium as a part of their European tour last year. And how deeply disappointed all the Ukrainian fans of the Stones were, including myself, when local promoters failed to arrange things, and as a result the Rolling Stones performed in Warsaw at the last moment instead. We don’t know if The Rolling Stones are ever coming to Kyiv, but at least we’ll have a small consolation this summer when “Shine a Light” will hit the big screens in Kyiv this week.
“Shine a Light” was directed by one of America’s renowned director Martin Scorsese, who documented two Stones performances from their Bigger Bang Tour. Scorcese filmed the Stones over a two-day period at the intimate Beacon Theater in New York City in the fall of 2006.
Scorsese made one of his seminal entries in 1978 when he shot the “Band for The Last Waltz,” and Mick Jagger and Co. saw the creative possibilities of the film early in their career, hiring Jean-Luc Godard to chronicle their writing process in “Sympathy for the Devil” and changing the face of rock documentaries with the Maysles Bros. ”Gimme Shelter.” Thus, it seems perfectly natural that Scorcese and the Stones are teaming up to once again impress both the fans of music and film.
“Shine a Light” was shot in 2006 when the Stones performed a benefit for Bill Clinton’s charity foundation. A far cry from the arenas the group normally plays, this intimate theatre gives Scorsese a fantastic setting to memorialize the aging rock band doing what they love. Filling the hall with lights and cameras, Scorsese captures their set with a stunning, often unforgiving clarity. Particularly blown up to gargantuan size on the screen, you’re going to see every wrinkle on Mick Jagger and Keith Richard’s craggy faces. You’re also going to see all the sweat and spit that goes into a performance, cranked up to maximum levels.
Scorsese and the audio team mixed in order to provide a surround-sound atmosphere. If Keith is having a solo, and the cameras are on him, then his guitar will rise in volume, letting us hear exactly what he is doing. For all the jokes about how the Rolling Stones are senior citizens, one thing “Shine a Light” will prove is what great musicians the guitarists Richards and Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts are. Scorsese tries to match the personalities that come through in the playing with the backstage personalities, dropping in snippets of old interviews from the band’s long history between numbers as commentary and tribute. You will be amazed by how many different times over the decades the guys were asked: “How long do you think you’ll keep this up?”
“Shine a Light” is full of the candid moments. When Scorsese captures Charlie Watts catching his breath after a number or Keith laughing at himself for forgetting the lyrics, this is where the film really comes alive, suddenly becoming a movie about some guys who make music and not just another concert film. The opening of the picture shows behind-the-scenes preparations, planning the stage, setting up, the meet-and-greets. Scorsese is a character in this drama, as charming and affable as ever, and so is the band.
Several guest artists show up in “Shine a Light,” such as Jack White from The White Stripes, Buddy Guy and Christina Aguilera, with who they duet on “Live With Me.” Bill and Hillary Clinton take the stage to add, respectively, sax and backing vocals to “Tumbling Dice.” So if you still hot for the Rolling Stones, Martin Scorsese’s performance documentary of Mick, Keith and the gang won’t leave you cold.
Maria Leontieva can be reached at [email protected] or 496-4563
Kyiv (19 Chervonoarmiyska, 234-3380). From July 17.
Original language with subtitles
Tickets are Hr 15 – 40
