Karen Dalton: In My Own Time.
The New Haven Documentary Film Festival ends on Sunday with two films about two women with musical careers that have left a lasting impression.
Karen Dalton: In My Own Time traces the life of the late Oklahoma-born roots folk singer and musician who made her way to New York City at the height of the folk movement in the 1960s, only to leave and return once again. She may have never quite achieved the fame her talents so richly deserved, but in recent years she has been revealed as an influence and inspiration to many who discovered her music long after her passing.
Directors Robert Yapkowitz and Rich Peete let her family, friends, and musicians tell their stories about her. They also let Dalton herself speak through pieces of her personal journals and poetry (read by Angel Olson), and through performance footage that lets the viewer experience her soulful voice and mesmerizing guitar work. The photos and videos resonate even more deeply once it is revealed that her personal archive was lost due to a fire in 2018, not long after many of these pieces of her life were documented in this film.
This engaging film may be one’s first glimpse into the life and career of this enigmatic and deeply authentic performer, but it most likely will pique their interest enough to seek out more of her music. The film is being shown at Cafe Nine during the Sunday Buzz, which also features a tribute performance of Dalton’s first album It’s So Hard To Tell Who’s Going To Love You Best by Nashville singer-songwriter Stephy J. Moore.
Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over.
Cafe Nine is also the setting Sunday evening for the showing of Lydia Lunch: The War Is Never Over, the final film in the festival’s retrospective of director and producer Beth B. The film focuses on the iconic No Wave performer who conquered music, film, and spoken word stages with revelations that were personal, provocative, and empowering.
Lunch tells her own story, from the abusive childhood she escaped to her early days in New York City through a multitude of bands and other projects that helped her give voice to what dwelled inside — always with raw honesty, often with humor, and forever uniquely her own. We also hear from those who have known and worked with her for years about her life and career from their perspectives, including how she has influenced and inspired them. The performance footage shown is a highlight of the film and adds its own insight and energy to the proceedings.
Viewers familiar with Lunch’s work, as well as those who don’t know the whole story, will find this comprehensive and incisive look into her wild and impactful life more than satisfying. The event includes a live spoken word performance by Lydia Lunch herself following the film.
Tickets for the above events and others in the film festival’s lineup can be purchased at the NHDocs website here.