A Complete Unknown (2024)

We were impressed by James’ Mangold’s 2024 film about 19-year old’s Bob Dylan’s arrival in New York and his extraordinary impact on the folk music world. Timothée Chalamet in the main role is remarkably convincing and the discussion group was surprised he didn’t win an Oscar.

We were delighted to have a Dylan superfan in our midst, who’d seen him perform at least ten times. We heard about his books, albums and memorabilia. He felt the film’s storyline was “broadly accurate but condensed.”  Dylan was, in his opinion, “an ordinary middle-class intellectual who created a persona and reinvented himself.”  He was “ahead of everyone else.”

As is often the case with our discussions, we had members of the group with other close links. One had Pete and Peggy Seeger in their home as a child. Her radio documentary on The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll can be heard on i-player  https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s77wp

We talked about the relationship between Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and Dylan. Barbaro’s clear pure voice was a joy.  The song ‘Diamonds and Rust’ was recommended for beautifully immortalising their love affair. The lack of sex scenes in the film was a refreshing change.  The New York setting felt authentic.

Dylan, according to our group, was contrary but ahead of everyone else. A poet, a philosopher, a genius.  We shared some of our favourite Dylan songs and sayings. Long may he continue to carry his lightbulb.

Anne