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Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song

A journey through the life of Leonard Cohen through one of his most iconic songs: Hallelujah.

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Deze voorstelling maakt deel uit van Rialto Filmclub met als gastspreker deze maand Ernst-Jan Pfauth.

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, a Journey, a Song

Few songs have been covered as many times as Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (1934-2016), with those by John Cale, Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Buckley being particularly memorable. Cohen spent years tinkering with the song, even after it appeared on Cohen's 1984 album Various Positions. Initially, the song had gone unnoticed, but that changed after John Cale's cover. No one can say for sure what the song is about - is it a modern prayer, is it a symbolist poem? Cohen himself never made any statements about it; he probably couldn't either.

Filmmakers Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller use the song to portray Cohen's life. Using Hallelujah, they recount his childhood in Montreal, his poetry and music, as well as his drinking problems and depression. People who knew him well tell their story, including his lover Dominique Issermann. And, of course, there is archive footage with Cohen himself.

de Volkskrant

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