The trailer for It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, a documentary about the late musician, has debuted online.
Ever since the ‘Hallelujah’ singer’s tragic death from drowning in May 1997, aged 30, there have been many attempts to make a film about his life. The doc itself revealed the late star’s mother objected to Brad Pitt playing her son in a biopic.
Now director Amy berg takes archive footage, as well as new interviews with his family and contemporaries, to offer the first authorised portrait of his life. Watch the full trailer below.
The two-minute clip features his mother, Mary Guibert, Buckley’s partners, and bandmates, plus Aimee Mann and Ben Harper, all of whom discuss his talent, personality, and success. Buckley’s voice also offers some insight through archive footage. About music, he playfully says: “My main influences? Love, anger, depression, and Zeppelin”.
There are also serious moments, such as a section concerning his relationship with his father, fellow musician Tim Buckley. The two barely knew each other before Tim Buckley died in 1975, aged 28. During the trailer, Jeff is asked what he inherited from him, to which he icily replies: “people who remember my father – next question”.
There are also ominous quotes from the man about his own mortality. One interviewee recalls him saying “I’m not gonna last that long”. Later, one of the final quotes of the trailer is the artist declaring: “I’ve been wrong, and completely ugly, I’ve been beautiful, I’ve been totally in love, I’ve been hideous, but I’ve never been dead”.
It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley will be released in US cinemas on August 8, and become available on streaming service HBO Max in the winter. As yet, there is no listed UK release date. It premiered at Sundance in January to rave reviews, and currently sits at a 100% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
NME’s four-star review of the film described the movie as “celebratory not sad”, calling it “a well-rounded portrait of the legend that should appeal to both long-term Buckley devotees and newcomers alike”.