It was the mid-‘60s, the era of free love, when Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen met on the hedonistic isle of Hydra. She complained of being the only non-artist in the commune. Little did she know that her “art” was to be serving as Cohen’s muse. (She was the inspiration behind “So Long Marianne” and “Bird on a Wire.”) Ihlen described their relationship as two refugees running away from something they would inevitably have to deal with. One obstacle stood between Cohen and the road to musical immortality: once he overcame a fear of performing live, there would be bushels of money to be made off penning depressing ditties, and a cornucopia of impressionable muses to conquer. Like so many of the celebrity biodocs of late, the subjects are of interest, the footage rare, and their story compelling. What’s been lacking is the personal force and vision needed to make the leap to a work of art. Nick Broomfield directs. (2019) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.