Film Movement has set Dec. 10 for the DVD debut of
Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Jim Brown’s latest folk music film, Holly
Near: Singing For Our Lives.
With previous profiles for the likes of Woody
Guthrie, Pete Seeger and The Weavers, it was only natural that singer,
songwriter and political activist Holly Near would join such a prestigious
group as the subject of one of his documentaries.
The film follows Holly Near’s decades-long career as
a recording artist, songwriter, actress (Slaughterhouse-Five,
The Todd Killings, Minnie and Moskowitz) and
women’s rights advocate.
Beginning in small venues, she once did a two-night
gig at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, an intimate (meaning very small), but nevertheless
legendary folk venue in Santa Monica back in the early 1970s. That small venue showcase was shared with
none other than fellow newcomer Tom Waits!!
As her following grew, she began to pack theatres
and other concert venues as a headliner.
A true road warrior … her fans keep close tabs on her concert dates and
will travel far and wide to catch her music live and tune into her political
advocacy.
A number of contemporaries are interviewed here, who
provide insights into her recording and activist career. These include Jane Fonda (who co-starred with
her and Donald Sutherland in director Francine Parker’s 1972 film release of FTA), Gloria
Steinem and Ronnie Gilbert (who was featured, along with Holly Near, in
director Jim Brown’s 1981 documentary, The
Weavers: Wasn't That a Time) … and more.
As to bonus features, Film Movement has included an
additional 30 minutes worth of interviews not included in the documentary and
there are two live concert performances — “One Good Song” and “Somebody’s
Jail.”
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