The Bernard Shakey Film Retrospective: Neil Young on Screen

The Bernard Shakey Retrospective: Neil Young on Screen from IFC Center on Vimeo.

Coming up at IFC Center in New York City this month will be Bernard Shakey Film Retrospective: Neil Young on Screen.

This is pretty unique and an opportunity to see and hear on the big screen some rare Neil Young films, including the premiere of MUDDY TRACK, the chronicle of the 1987 European tour with Crazy Horse.

Long one of folk and rock’s most respected artists, Neil Young—under the pseudonym Bernard Shakey—has also been making films for over four decades, from concert movies JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAST (1974) and RUST NEVER SLEEPS (1979), to GREENDALE (2003) and other fiction features. This weeklong survey offers a rare opportunity to discover another side of Young’s creative genius, both behind and in front of the camera. The program includes weeklong NYC theatrical premiere engagements of MUDDY TRACK (1987), a one-of-a-kind chronicle of a European tour with Crazy Horse, and the newly restored director’s cut of HUMAN HIGHWAY (1982), a wildly anarchic satire of Cold War America starring Young, Dean Stockwell, Sally Kirkland, Russ Tamblyn and Devo. Also screening are Young’s two collaborations with Jim Jarmusch: DEAD MAN (1995), for which Young provided the stunning, feedback-heavy score, and YEAR OF THE HORSE (1997), a kaleidoscopic doc portrait of Young and Crazy Horse during their 1996 world tour.

+ Solo Trans + A Day at the Gallery & Neil Young Trunk Show

Screenings from Friday, April 17 - Thursday, April 23.

Neil Young in his manager’s office in Santa Monica, Calif., with artwork by Joni Mitchell
Credit Amy Dickerson for The New York Times

From interview with Neil Young in NY Times by JOHN ANDERSON:

“Human Highway,” which is set in the fictional, irradiated Linear Valley, possesses a dire view of the environment and an utter disregard for what was considered commercial cinema.

“At the time we made the film, I was really into Godard, so I wanted it to be real slow,” Mr. Young said, smiling. “I thought that was going to be really funny. And it was. To me. I was killing myself.” Others, he concedes, didn’t quite agree.

“Really, I had no idea what I was doing at all,” said Mr. Young, now 69. “It was a discovery, and a great thing to do, but then it came out and nothing happened with it.”

...

“I love the art of acting,” he said. “I love it. I’ve done a few things, and people have a little trouble disassociating me from the character, so that’s a hurdle I have to overcome.” Whatever character he plays, he said, “I have to get by the fact that I’m Neil Young. It’s not like getting by the fact that you’re Tom Hanks or something, because everybody’s used to the fact that Tom Hanks is going to be different people.”

He added that he would love to continue acting: “I’m available. I can’t get a job. What’s going on?”

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