Soderbergh's Lennon Doc Promises Unheard Truths from Icon's Final Hours

Published 3 weeks ago2 minute read
Precious Eseaye
Precious Eseaye
Soderbergh's Lennon Doc Promises Unheard Truths from Icon's Final Hours

Stephen Soderbergh has recently completed an untitled documentary focusing on John Lennon's final, pivotal interview. He describes this work as an "incredible historical document" whose relevance has only intensified, becoming "even more relevant today" than it was 45 years ago on December 8, 1980, the tragic day Lennon was murdered. Soderbergh, who shared these insights at the inaugural Doha Film Festival, where his latest film "The Christophers" premiered internationally, expressed excitement about the project. His primary objective with the documentary is to present the interview in a manner that "enhances the interview and doesn’t distract from it," rather than attempting to "re-invent the form." He hopes the film will encourage as many people as possible to engage with what John and Yoko Ono discussed on that fateful afternoon before Lennon's death.

Soderbergh noted his surprise at the couple's candidness during the discussion. Despite their extensive experience with interviews, John and Yoko were "so free in their discussions" and "open and excited to talk," making it seem as if they had "never been interviewed before." This unreserved dialogue, Soderbergh believes, is crucial for the audience to experience. He asserts that the content of their conversation from 45 years ago remains profoundly significant, touching upon universal themes such as "relationships, politics, how we treat each other," and "how systems work on the individual." Above all, the interview underscores "the importance of love in our daily life and our world."

The historically significant interview took place on December 8, 1980, with Yoko Ono by Lennon’s side. At 40 years old, Lennon had recently emerged from a five-year musical hiatus, during which he focused on raising his son, Sean. This conversation was the sole radio interview granted by the couple around the release of their album, "Double Fantasy." They met a team from RKO Radio at their New York City residence, the Dakota apartment building, where they engaged in a wide-ranging discussion. Tragically, merely twelve hours after this insightful exchange, John Lennon was fatally shot outside the Dakota by Mark David Chapman.

This still-untitled documentary marks Soderbergh’s return to feature-length documentaries after a considerable period, his last being "And Everything Is Going Fine," a portrait of artist Spalding Gray, released in 2010. The project boasts an impressive list of executive producers, including Soderbergh himself, Michael Sugar and David Hillman from Sugar23, and Nancy Saslow and David Hudson representing Mishpookah Entertainment Group.

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