Monday, March 5, 2018

DVD Review: A Fanatic Heart: Bob Geldof On W.B. Yeats

A Fanatic Heart: Bob Geldof On W.B. Yeats is a joyful and interesting look at the life and works of poet William Butler Yeats. It is a journey guided by Bob Geldof. From the very beginning of the film, Bob Geldof speaks directly to us, starting with a somewhat personal account of Ireland marking the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916 uprising. He mentions how the footage on television “stirred the politics of hatred.” But in his school (Geldof was fourteen at the time), a teacher read aloud from the work of W.B. Yeats, and that is how Geldof felt connected to his country – not through angry, nationalistic rhetoric, but through the poetry of Yeats. Geldof tells us: “He was the oddest, bravest, downright weirdest of revolutionaries, and he never killed a living soul. Yet it was his revolution that won in the end – the revolution of the Irish mind.”

The film gives us a taste of Ireland’s history, as well as the history of Yeats’ family, some of which is provided by Roy Foster, a historian and Yeats biographer. We are taken to some of the important places in Yeats’ development. The history is fascinating, of course. But it is the poetry that is the heart of this film, with Yeats’ works being tied to both his personal history and the cultural and political landscape of Ireland, and the film does an excellent job of showing us those connections. The film features a lot of his poetry, read by a number of writers, actors and musicians, including Edna O’Brien, Richard E. Grant, Billy Nighy, Liam Neeson, Bono and Stephen Fry, as well as Yeats himself, in a recording from 1936. Even if you believe yourself to be unfamiliar with Yeats’ work, you will undoubtedly recognize many of the poems – or at least certain lines – delivered here.

A lot of the details about Yeats’ life are interesting, including the fact that he was a virgin until the age of thirty-one. And the elements of mysticism are strange, to say the least, and include a séance aimed at discovering whether a child could be reincarnated. There is also information on The Abbey Theatre, with Bob Geldof telling us that Yeats aspired  to help create “a national literature, in English, for the Irish – not anti-English, but pro-Irish, about what we are, not what we’re against.” Bob Geldof, of course, has his own strong perspective, and – for better or worse – it colors and drives the film. I think this strong perspective makes the film more interesting, more personal, more enjoyable. Geldof clearly has a passion for Yeats, his poetry, and Ireland itself, and that passion is behind the joy of this documentary.

Special Features

This release includes a second DVD of special features, including a collection of readings of W.B. Yeats’ poetry read by actors, writers, and musicians, including Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy and Lisa Dwan (they give some of the best readings, as they have memorized the poems and directly address us). Sting, Olivia O’Leary, Dominic West, Tom Hollander, Damian Lewis and Van Morrison are also among those who read Yeats’ poetry.

The second disc also includes a whole lot of extra footage, including an alternate opening featuring several of the readers giving some thoughts on the poet, as well as more biographical information on Yeats, including the mystical elements. There is also an interesting discussion between Bob Geldof and Liam Neeson.

The set also includes a third disc, a CD featuring seventy-three minutes of poetry readings and music. The CD begins with the poetry. There are twenty-nine poems read by folks like Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Bono, Sting and Van Morrison. Bob Geldof himself reads “When You Are Old.” Approximately a half hour of music from the soundtrack, music by Boomtown Rats member Pete Briquette, follows. The CD concludes with songs, “September 1913/Mad As The Mist And Snow” from Bono and “A Drunken Man’s Praise Of Sobriety” from Elvis Costello. Interestingly, Bono had also chosen “September 1913” to read, and he delivers it here basically as spoken word over the atmospheric music. “Mad As The Mist And Snow” was put to music by The Waterboys, and Bono delivers a passionate rendition. “A Drunken Man’s Praise Of Sobriety” was originally included on Elvis Costello’s “Sulky Girl” single.

A Fanatic Heart: Bob Geldof On W.B. Yeats was released on February 9, 2018 through MVD Visual.

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