The words Trunk Show conjure visions of unique and precious goods, displayed from old chunky leather-strapped luggage. The images recall a time of purposeful travel, when people moved across the country with deliberate speed. Neil Young’s Trunk Show uses the traveling exhibit concept to bring to life his collection of rare song gems.
The spontaneous and raw film was shot during two shows at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania during the Chrome Dreams II tour. Director Jonathan Demme described it as “a reaction to Heart of Gold, his previous film featuring Neil Young. That performance, done at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, was carefully staged for the camera, whereas Neil Young Trunk Show is caught on the fly. The viewer is taken into the live experience from all angles, including candid backstage moments with crew and complete set-up, from the wires to the rigging. “We didn’t plan anything,” said Demme. “This was the easiest film in the world to make.”
Demme and editor Glenn Allen drew on the director’s longstanding relationship with Neil Young to provide viewers with an intimate portrait of the artist. The film uses long takes as an antithesis to the current fashion of quick-cutting, giving the music full reign over production techniques. The two nights allowed Young and his band to pull a wide-variety of songs, from the artist’s very early days right up to the present. The result is a lingering and emotional gaze at the interior character of Young, unpacked piece by piece from a lifetime of carefully-crafted music.
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