Initially rejected by the Columbia label which, for obscure reasons, refused to distribute the record, Hallelujah found its way to success through covers by Bob Dylan, John Cale and of course Jeff Buckley, who turned it into a vibrant and melancholic anthem. Before Leonard Cohen re-appropriated it during a triumphant comeback, the song had even gained a new audience thanks to an unexpected intermediary: Shrek!
Paradoxical soul
A song as a gateway to a life: this is the angle chosen by directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine to paint this portrait of Leonard Cohen, an incomparable Canadian troubadour who arrived late on the musical scene after beginnings in literature. A mirror of his paradoxical soul, Hallelujah appears as the completed emblem of a work that unites sensuality and spirituality in texts with a seemingly spontaneous poetry, whose mystery is always operative.
This rich and moving exploration of Cohen’s universe unfolds through rare archives and concert excerpts, commented on by close friends and key collaborators.
After this documentary, Arte will broadcast for those who are still awake, the concert given by Cohen in July 2008, at the O2-Arena in London. After 15 years of absence from the stage, he will perform his most famous songs: Suzanne, Dance Me to the End of Love and of course Hallelujah. A poet above all, his dark lyrics, imbued with his perpetual quest for spirituality, have marked generations and have been covered many times, counting among the classics of pop history. A legendary concert marked by pure moments of grace in an intimate and hushed atmosphere.
Arte, 22.30 and 00.20
