Tag: nirvana

directed by Brett Morgen

30 years ago, on April 5th 1994, we failed as humanity. Well, to be precise, we fail quite often, but that day we lost one of us and I do believe it was our mistake that should have been a big lesson. Yet we keep making the same mistake, so perhaps you’ll share my conclusions after seeing this documentary. I’ll explain my truly Schopenhauer’s mood in a moment, but first, let’s focus on the film itself. For the younger generations or people who prefer slightly lighter kinds of music, Kurt Cobain was the vocalist and guitarist of Nirvana, a very popular grunge rock band. They were especially appreciated for being total rebels and artists refusing to go with the flow. Their songs were not only on top because of the music, but mostly because of the lyrics that were somehow allowing millions of people to associate with them. It’s not surprising because Kurt was writing those songs basing on his own experiences, feelings and personal troubles. From the early years, he’d been a lost soul, seeing the world differently than his peers and constantly in need of more affection in life, especially after his parents’ divorce. He was looking for a way to escape this mind battle of his in many ways, finally ending up with addiction to drugs. So his life was mostly focusing on expressing himself through music and running away from the reality that was too difficult to handle. Despite his arduous mental battle, he managed to get married and have a child, Frances. Those big life steps and their fame as Nirvana were pulling Kurt down and, unfortunately, he finally hit the bottom. No matter if you’re a fan of Nirvana or what I’m writing is new to you, still you should see this documentary. I believe it’s not about a music icon, but about a lost soul that was too emotional for this ruthless world. Indeed, Kurt chose the worst way possible, meaning drugs, and very few manage to return from this hell, but we have to remember he didn’t choose it just for the sake of wasting his life. He was so helpless and desperate that drugs were the only thing making him function, even on the lowest level. What I wrote at the beginning of this post was perhaps to general, but I do think Kurt needed more understanding and support, just like anyone struggling with anything in life. One may struggle to find a job, another to find a will to wake up in the morning. Why do we help one and leave the other to shoot himself out of the blue? Addiction to anything is never a pleasant picture, but, in the end, we’re all together on this planet and maybe, just maybe, we could try harder to stay united. People give up too easily on literally everything and never learn, because we keep losing our idols, family members, friends, neighbours. And you know to what? To loneliness. Because that’s the biggest killer of them all. This documentary is horribly difficult to me, even though I became a fan of Nirvana and learned about Kurt years after his death, but he’s still an icon to me. In the world full of people pretending to be someone they’re not, he wasn’t afraid to show his even ugliest sides, which made so many fans sympathise with him. To me, such authenticity is what I appreciate most in another person, so thank you Kurt for being you. I’m sorry the world wasn’t welcoming.

My rating: 8/10
S.