A Complete unknown
A reflection
I read one review that described this film as a musical. I don’t think so, although given that it is about Bob Dylan, there is a lot of music. Timothée Chalamet, who takes on the role of Bob, sings all the songs, as does Edward Norton, who acts as Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash.
Over my life, I heard references to Dylan and his music. My ears pricked when I heard him described as ‘spiritual.’
Like Melchidezek, he comes out of nowhere. There is no backstory about his family; he simply appears in New York City riding in the back of a car. He is looking for Woody Guthrie, and he eventually finds him in a hospital. Pete Seeger is tending to Woody, and he invites Dyan to sing. It is from this performance that Seeger takes him under his wing and into the folk scene.
There is an emotional neediness in Dylan that he seeks to meet through his relationships with Sylvie (Elle Fanning) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro).
Writing lyrics and composing music is his life, as portrayed in many scenes. His spirit is expressed in these exercises. He seems not to want to be repetitive with his music preferring to play new material, again — the mark of his spirituality. He plays not for the audience but for his soul.
His music and lyrics are like the life that he breathes; hence, he will not be caged by a label or a culture. For me, that is the mark of someone remaining true to their spirituality in that it is about living, growing, and being free.
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