Patti Smith Documentary Gets PBS Debut

Posted on Dec 21st 2009 11:00AM by John D. Luerssen
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A documentary on Patti Smith, the highly-influential "Godmother of punk," will debut on PBS on Dec. 30. Filmed by fashion photographer turned filmmaker Steven Sebring over the course of 11 years, 'Patti Smith: Dream of Life' will air on the performer's 63rd birthday as part of the series 'POV.'

At the outset of the project, which started around the release of 1996's 'Gone Again,' Smith says she wasn't in favor of the idea. "To me the idea seems sort of conceited," she told the New York Times. "I felt, even though I was 50 years old at the time, too young to do a documentary. I hadn't done enough work yet to merit a documentary."

But after being trailed by a camera for 10-plus years, Smith -- who will commemorate the broadcast with a three night run at New York's Bowery Ballroom on Dec. 29 – 31 -- got used to the idea. The film, which first debuted at Sundance in 2008 where it won a cinematography award, isn't only performance-based. It chronicles Smith's move back to New York from Detroit and her return to performing and recording to support herself and her children after the death of her husband.

Concert footage from appearances in Israel, Japan and Washington is balanced by Smith's candid storytelling. "My own personal hope is just that people get some sense that I have more dimensions than is sometimes reported," Smith said. "Sometimes all people know about you is, No. 1, your work, but through the media they often will be given one aspect of a human being."

"I'm happy for people to get a more humanistic view," she continued. "I have a really great life. I've had, for me, really great tragedy in my life. I still mourn my people that I lost. I miss my husband. But I've had great opportunities in my life."