An instant classic when released in September 1971, John Lennon's Imagine was the ex-Beatle's solo masterpiece, and its musical legacy is matched here by priceless footage of Lennon's creative process, independently edited from original 16-millimeter footage by producer-director Andrew Solt with the hands-off approval of Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. Incorporating footage from John and Yoko's original film Imagine (clips of which were previously included in the 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon), Gimme Some Truth presents Lennon, Ono, coproducer Phil Spector, and a host of gifted musicians in a fluid context of conflict, community, and craftsmanship. Bearing witness to every stage of the recording process, this 63-minute documentary succeeds as a visual diary, a study of familiar music in its infancy, and a revealing portrait of the then-30-year-old Lennon--from witty clown to confrontational perfectionist--at the peak of his post-Fab Four inspiration.
Direction
Solt's invisible editing lets moments breathe raw.
Production
Intimate 16mm footage feels stolen from time.
Acting
Lennon's unguarded faces reveal everything.
Director
Andrew Solt
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Andy Warhol and Miles Davis appear in the original 1972 film footage, making this a accidental supergroup of 20th-century icons. Solt had to negotiate separately with each estate.
Ono's 'hands-off' approval was radical for 2000 — she reportedly watched only the final cut, trusting Solt to show Lennon's difficult perfectionism without sanitizing his behavior.
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