Sing Me the Songs That Say I Love You: A Concert for Kate McGarrigle
HD Closed CaptioningLian Lunson
Open iTunes to preview, buy, and download this movie.
Plot Summary
In May 2011, family and friends gathered together to pay tribute to the late, great singer, songwriter Kate McGarrigle. The concert was filmed at the Town Hall Theater in New York City by Lian Lunson. This documentary is part concert, and partly an intimate look at a family coming to terms with the loss of a loved one. Kate McGarrigle was a prolific songwriter who's untimely death shattered not only her family and friends but legions of fans worldwide. Rufus Wainwright first approached Lian Lunson, who the family had first worked with in the Feature Documentary 'Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man.' Ironically, it was on that trip to Sydney to take part in that concert and film, that Kate first realized that something was wrong with her health. This film is primarily a concert showcasing the breadth and incredible talent of Kate McGarrigle and her sister Anna. It is hard to celebrate the work of such a talent and be that close as her family was and is to her. The concert and film were put together with enormous love; with every song being a reminder of the devastating loss of beautiful Kate McGarrigle. Sing Me the Songs That Say I Love You had its world premiere at Robert Redford's inaugural Sundance London Film Festival in April 2012.
Credits
Director
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
43%- Reviews Counted: 7
- Fresh: 3
- Rotten: 4
- Average Rating: 5.5/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: As a musical experience, it is generous and moving. But as a documentary, "Sing Me the Songs" is an awkward hybrid of concert film and rock-star biography.
Fresh: Rufus and Martha Wainwright host an all-star tribute concert for their late mother, folk singer Kate McGarrigle, in this old-fashioned but engrossing rock-doc .
Fresh: The film is both celebration and elegy, a sing-along and a cry-along, a cathartic moan and a perfect bliss-out.
Rotten: There's virtually no biographical content. The songs stick very much to one plaintive folk-pop style, and if that is not your passion, the flood of concert footage becomes wearing fairly early on.
Customer Reviews
Phenomenal Emotional Musical
I was at one of these concerts, and this film not only captures exactly what it felt like to be there, but from much better perspective, sound and angles than any audience member could ever experience. It also captures the stunning performances of the folk-dynasty (as Rufus likes to call it) of family & friends of the late great Kate McGarrigle and her marvelous music.
While documenting these amazing tribute concerts, a mere year after her death, the feelings are palpably raw, and the singing of her songs is so moving, The interviews and archival footage adds immeasurable depth to make this not a mere concert film but a family portrait of an amazingly wonderful woman.
Absolutely brilliant film: I am so grateful that it was made.
Worthiest of Tributes
I saw this tribute live in NYC and this film captures so much of what I didn't see, how difficult it was for this talented family: Rufus's and Martha's tears, Anna's struggling to make it through a chorus. Yet they prevailed and the director aptly wove in the love and artistry of an extraordinary family of artists supported by caring and loving friends. It really touched my heart and I cried almost at every song. What a worthy tribute to a mother, sister, aunt and friend--who was a true artistic genius.
A heart wrenching tribute
YES ! A profoundly loving memory to Kate's life. I missed a local showing in Seattle and downloaded the film as soon as it became available on ITunes. We saw Rufus in concert not long after losing his mother. And his longing and
missing her was palpable. Watching this loving tribute to a mom AND incredibly brilliant singer/songwriter is wonderful yet heart-wrenching.
Viewers Also Bought
- In the Shadow of the Stars
- Allie Light & Irving Saraf
- View In iTunes
- The Audition
- Susan Froemke
- View In iTunes
- Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out
- Marina Zenovich
- View In iTunes
- Ladies and Gentlemen...Mr. Leonard Cohen
- Donald Brittain & Don Owen
- View In iTunes