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Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley

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This page actually refers to the film "Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley," a documentary film about the late musician, Jeff Buckley. It does not refer to the motion picture Amazing Grace based on the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce.

As of June 2, 2009, "Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley" is available worldwide as part of the Grace-Around The World (1 CD/2 DVD Deluxe Limited Edition) - a 3 disc package that celebrates the 15th anniversary of Jeff Buckley's album, Grace.

Here is the DVD synopsis for "Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley" as taken from the official press release:

"This hour-long independent documentary investigates the power behind Jeff Buckley's musical legacy and finds revelation at its heart--the fans. The film includes rare performances, exclusive video footage and interviews with all four Jeff Buckley Band members, friends, family and colleagues, as well as artists (composer, painter, dancer and singers) who pay tribute to how Jeff inspired them. Produced and directed by first-time filmmakers, the documentary screened at 25 film festivals worldwide (Seattle International Film Festival, Cinequest, CMJ, etc.) and won four awards, including best music documentary and best film."

I think this DVD has been delayed. It will not be released on May 22nd.

Set for DVD release by Momentum Pictures, AMAZING GRACE and will be available to rent from 23rd July 2007 and to buy from 6 August 2007. I've been waiting and waiting for this one!

AMAZING GRACE: JEFF BUCKLEY is a documentary by Nyla Bialek Adams and Laurie Trombley on the 1990s cult musician who released one album, the superb GRACE, toured it around the world, and then tragically drowned while recording a follow-up. Promo DVDs of AMAZING GRACE have long been auctioned off or passed around fans, but as I write this Columbia Records is set to release the documentary in June 2009 as part of the Grace Around the World. Some of the footage of Jeff is taken from Sony's sepia-hued electronic press kit (available on the GRACE Legacy Edition) or the Live in Chicago DVD. But most it is is never-before-seen footage of Jeff, from early video of him outside Sin-e to Australian radio interviews late in his career. All four of the musicians who collaborated with Jeff Buckley on GRACE are interviewed, as are friends, his mother Mary Guibert, critics, DJ's, record industry moguls, and musicians influenced by him.

This is fairly entertaining viewing for fans. However, the biggest weakness of this documentary is that it is an authorized biography insistent on total adulation. Among their comments on Jeff's struggles with his second album, no one raises the very real possibility that he had hit a creative dead end and was destined to be a one-hit wonder. Jeff's life was haunted by the figure of his absent father Tim Buckley, but Tim Buckley and whatever inspiration he might have had on Jeff get nary a mention here. A documentary produced by the BBC a few years prior gave a much more balanced picture of Buckley's life, as have some of the print biographies.

This is a great movie! Inspiring and of historical value. Encourages Christians to use their faith to bring about social change. Shows that one person with great passion can bring about change despite great odds.