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March 21, 2007

Silver Jew: The Movie

At this year's SXSW Interactive, I felt more comfortable with movies than with people. Not to say I didn't meet or hang with a lot of great people–just that I felt a lot of anxiety relating to people. And for me, socializing taps energy while most movies inspire me and allow my batteries to recharge.

I skipped the morning panels on Sunday (yet another of those dreary Austin days we've been having lately) because I knew it would be my only chance to catch the world premiere of "Silver Jew," Michael Tully and Matthew Robison's documentary about David Berman's tour of Jerusalem.

I wasn't sure what to expect. Actually, I was not expecting it to be much more than a travelogue intermixed with musical interludes. While that's what this movie was on the surface, I was underestimating the understated humility and charm of Berman. Sure, I've heard his poetry and read his writings, but watching this movie was like hanging out with DCB. There was no rock star posturing or macho shit-talking. Quite the opposite. Berman exudes a fragility in this movie that I wasn't expecting.

Here's a guy who toiled away in relative obscurity for over a decade partly because of his conviction not to tour or face his audience. He has a innate talent for turning out unexpected, but immediately captivating, observations. But he also possessed an insecure streak and dwelled in a comfort zone cocoon for many years while his best friends experienced success.

How many of us have gone through the same trials and tests? How many of us have been running away from our natural gifts due to some irrationality or insecurity we possess inside? As Berman says (I'm paraphrasing obviously), "We all have something inside that we have to let out, and if we don't let it out, it will kill us." What we suppress will kill us. To pay attention to our internal wants or to ignore them. That is the $500 question.

Helping him along on his journey out of desparation and into the light is the beautiful Cassie (Marrett) Berman. You can tell in a shot where he clutches her hand while walking through the streets that she is the rock–the mooring.

By the end of the movie, you realize that Berman has achieved both a spiritual and professional epiphany. He realizes that he was loved all along and that he's lucky for his lot in life. He doesn't have to run away anymore. The music, which started as a tossed-off side-project recorded on a boombox, has become his medium. Though he originally longed for the artistic respectability and literary sheen of poetry, he's learned that he can affect far more people through his music than will ever read his books.

Posted by timothompson at March 21, 2007 12:09 AM