This film, like Leonard Cohen himself, has many layers. It's about the creation and evolution of an extraordinary song which, depending on the version, is sacred and secular. It's about a poet, novelist, songwriter, performer, mystic, and magician. It's subtly about aging. It's about connecting with each other. It's a religious journey, a meditation, it's about prayer. The connective tissue is the song, Hallelujah, which is also deeply layered. Cohen was a truth-teller. He was a restless god-seeker. His music asked us to be the same.
The film doesn't gloss over aspects of his life, nor does it overplay the power this one song has to move people. Cohen brilliantly brought the mundane (secular) to sit beside the secular and mystical in this one piece of music. Everyone has a favorite version; mine has always been through the gruff, tortured voice of Cohen.
The film doesn't gloss over aspects of his life, nor does it overplay the power this one song has to move people. Cohen brilliantly brought the mundane (secular) to sit beside the secular and mystical in this one piece of music. Everyone has a favorite version; mine has always been through the gruff, tortured voice of Cohen.