IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

IT’S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL

(director: Alexandria Bombach; cinematographers: Alexandria Bombach, Erick Stoll, J Bennett; editor: Alexandria Bombach; music: Lyrus Hung; cast: Emily Saliers, Winona LaDuke, Amy Ray; Runtime: 123; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Jessica Devaney/Anya Rous/Kathlyn Horan; TinFish Films/Chicken and Egg Pictures; 2023)

“I think this film, though enticing, will interest only their fans.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

An intimate and sincere musical documentary directed by Alexandria Bombach (“On Her Shoulders”/”Frame By Frame”) on The Indigo Girls, Amy Ray (the dark-haired one) and Emily Saliers (the strawberry blonde one) of the Atlanta alt-folk/rock duo. The ladies speak their mind as they look back at things after first meeting in grammar school and later teaming up as a musical duo.  The meandering film’s main appeal is what gets them to talk about their lengthy 40-year career (with hit albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s). After gigs in bars, they made it in the business with their break-out song “Closer to Fine” in 1989. The more ambitious Ray became the duo’s driving force, as they became better known as one of the more risky political singing groups.

I think this film, though enticing, will interest only their fans.

Though never lovers, both singers were lesbians. The film brings out a lot of their self-hating, not enough of their music and I did not learn enough about them to say I know them much better after the film. They have been called bleeding hearts, who were often mocked for advocating their liberal causes by their ugly detractors
. But what attracted me to them was their open-mindedness and willingness to say what they felt.

For the record, I liked their music without being a fan.

It played at the Sundance Film Festival.



REVIEWED ON 6/18/2023  GRADE: B

dennisschwartzreviews.com