This is about the life of 1960s folksinger, Phil Ochs. He discovered folk music and politics at Ohio State University in the late 1950s and began to blend the two. He grew up in the Jewish family of a failed medical doctor who suffered from bipolar disorder and depression after his military service in World War II.
Phil Ochs wrote and sang very topical protest music on many themes--unions, racial discrimination, and ultimately the Vietnam War. He began writing music and singing extensively in 1961 and 1962 in New York City and became part of the folk music world there. He had quite a distinctive voice and wrote more explicit protest music than more popular performers like Bob Dylan who were more interested in the creativity of their music.
After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, he began to lose his way through alcoholism and the same bipolar issues that had afflicted his father. He committed suicide by hanging in 1976 at the age of 35.
This is a remarkable documentary that is unflinching in describing the ascent and then the disintegration of Ochs' life. The story is told by many of Phil Ochs' musical friends, as well as his family, wife, and daughter. Many of his songs hold the documentary together.
Phil Ochs wrote and sang very topical protest music on many themes--unions, racial discrimination, and ultimately the Vietnam War. He began writing music and singing extensively in 1961 and 1962 in New York City and became part of the folk music world there. He had quite a distinctive voice and wrote more explicit protest music than more popular performers like Bob Dylan who were more interested in the creativity of their music.
After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, he began to lose his way through alcoholism and the same bipolar issues that had afflicted his father. He committed suicide by hanging in 1976 at the age of 35.
This is a remarkable documentary that is unflinching in describing the ascent and then the disintegration of Ochs' life. The story is told by many of Phil Ochs' musical friends, as well as his family, wife, and daughter. Many of his songs hold the documentary together.