"The Bee Gee's: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" goes behind the boogie.
How Deep Is Your Love for the Bee Gee's?
Irrespective of whether you're a stan, or if Bee Gee's disco falsetto is is simply Jive Talking, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is an inspiring and epic display of passion and creativity that shows how a band manages a fourty year long career, Stayin' Alive in the constantly evolving world of music.
The Bee Gee's began as a three piece band; brothers, Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb. In haste the Brothers fought their way through the pop-filled 60's, gaining momentous success through till the mid 80's, and cementing their place as musical legends till this day. Known best for their high-falsetto disco tones, the Bee Gee's constant genre flips and creative drive broke new ground, and changed music forever.
Frank Marshal's (Arachnophobia, Eight Below) How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is an adoring love letter to the legacy of the Brothers Gibb. Cataloguing their rise, numerous falls, and re-births through archival footage and interviews with the people involved and those inspired by the Bee Gee's.
Editors Derek Boonstra & Robert A. Martinez string decades of footage together fantastically, creating a winding chronicle of hope and redemption; at it's finest moments its uniquely touching, heartbreaking, and in one instance; incredibly intense.
It wouldn't be a Bee Gee's documentary without a fantastic soundtrack, cataloguing year by year the very best of their gargantuum discography. Throughout their 40 year career, there’s something for (nearly) everybody.
The Bee Gee's believed that You Should Be Dancing, and though they where briefly separated by sibling rivalries, their main ideals always stuck to their love for music and each other. Broken Heart lends itself to a character study of the Brothers and the people who waltzed in and out of their lives during their hours of triumph and despair. Documenting year by year their success' and failures.
The unfortunate loss of Maurice and Robin rings sadder than ever in this incredible display of comradery and brotherly love. The eldest and last surviving Gibb, Barry, states he'd rather 'have no hit songs, and have them back'. In clearer perspectives; undiluted by fame and fortune, it is the Bee Gee's love that remains the pinnacle of their musical endeavors.
As someone with two brothers, neither of whom I have ever sang or intend to sing with; the Bee Gee's are a remarkable display of talent and drive. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart broke my heart with the loss off such important musical figures, and stapled it back together with a deeper understanding of their musical craft. Whilst it may cater solely to Bee Gee’s fans, it is a great documentary to create some more.
Suffice to say I drove home with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack blasting for all to hear.
5/5 disco bops
