John Cale on screen

Words For The Dying

Director: Rob Nilsson (1989)

B&W/colour. 80 minutes.

Filmed in Moscow, Wales, London and Amsterdam (live performance at the Paradiso of Chinese Envoy - April 11, 1989).

This documentary follows the composing and recording of The Falklands Suite in Moscow, Wales and London. During the filming he has to deal with his mother who has been hospitalized, convincing her to sell the house (which has been burglarized).

Brian Eno, who produced the recordings, didn't like the idea of being filmed, and layed down three basic rules:

1. Stay out of the control room
2. Occasional surveillance camera permitted
3. Film my hands and feet

Point of interest is the composing and recording of Year of the Patriot, an otherwise unavailable piece written by Eno and Cale for bass player extraordinaire Rodion Azarkin.

DVD release

Re-released (with a few extras) on DVD by Provocateur Pictures in 2008.