Tonight on IFC they’re showing the film Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten. A Julian Temple film in tribute to Joe. Released in 2007 I think.
Amazing work with documentary footage with everyone from Bridget Bardot to David Lee Roth. Donnie Letts, Jim Jarmusch, and Tymon Dogg. Like the old gang casually recalling a fallen friend.
This film is virtually impossible for me to watch.
When I first got nerve to see it in the cinema when first released, I sat stunned with my friend Peg. Not sure I could move. The impact of historical footage coupled with the global radio weighs on my heart like a cinder block.
Have I driven home the impact of this man on my life yet? Words escape me and tears fill my eyes as I look up to try and watch a bit. I’d love to see the footage again. I just glanced up to see Tymon wailing on his violin. I have to look away.
Its so easy to be sucked into this and just recall the brute force of pain that I felt upon hearing of his death.
I can laugh at memories I can smile to see these faces but under it all is the hollow dark feeling of knowing hes gone.
Hearing him speaking, takes my breath away.
Memories swirl in my head as if Joe himself wrote the soundtrack to my entire life. Every moment of it.
How timely on this day that rocknyc announces a radio coupling I’m listening to Joe’s radio show. A sign? Global Sounds. Pirate Radio. Here we go again, only now its Joe tying it together rather than my psychic abilities.
I cant rationally review this film
I cant review it or rate it
I can feel it,in my soul, in my heart. I can raise my eyes to catch glimpses but the screen is blurred.
I can hear him, I’ll always hear him.