The old Opera House on Elm Street in Camden, Maine, had to shut down because of Hurricane Lee. This caused a delay in the first US show of Alex Gibney’s new movie, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon. But, good news! The Hamptons International Film Festival will now be the first to show it in the US. During this week’s festival, a unique chat will be held between the famous singer Paul Simon and David Fear from Rolling Stone.
People might find it surprising that Gibney, who usually makes intense films about topics like the Bush administration and the Church of Scientology, is making a film about Paul Simon. Still, the director is no stranger to the musical world. “Recall the rhythmic elegance of James Brown, the revolutionary spirit of Fela Kuti, or the undeniable charisma of Frank Sinatra,” Gibney remarks. He told stories about all of them. Gibney loves how music is made. He jokes that his singing isn’t as good as his filmmaking. He adds, “My wife will tell you that I’m not much of a singer, but maybe for that reason, I’ve always been interested in the music-making process.”
In music, Paul Simon is one of the biggest names. He has many hit songs like “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “Graceland,” “The Boxer,” and more. Most people can recognize his significant impact on music. Some are surprised to find out.
In Restless Dreams is a film about Paul Simon’s life in music, starting when he was young. It talks about his close friendship and works with Art Garfunkel and how they made songs like “The Sound of Silence.” The film also shows Simon’s solo songs and how he’s making his new album, Seven Psalms. The director, Gibney, got a unique chance to watch Simon make this album, so the movie shows Simon’s current work and his past.
The film is set in Simon’s old-style Texas home and shows how he makes music. Gibney gives us a close look at Simon, portraying him as a master of music, always trying to get the perfect sound. Watching Simon work on his music is like being right there with him.
But life can be unpredictable and full of challenges. The documentary shows that as Paul Simon neared his 82nd birthday, he suddenly lost hearing in one ear. For someone so connected to sound, this was a big blow. But Simon found deep inspiration from this challenge. This album was meant to share these tough moments from his life.
At 209 minutes, In Restless Dreams promises more than a cursory glance at Simon’s music. It covers songs from the lively “Obvious Child” to the soul-stirring crescendo of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” “Simon’s music doesn’t merely play; it lives within you,” Gibney says of Simon’s music. “It’s like it gets in your lungs, and suddenly you’re breathing it.”
The film was first shown at the Toronto International Film Festival and is now ready for more people to see. People are talking about it a lot. Gibney said the Toronto show was scary, but the audience loved it.
