Captivating, historically rich and extremely moving - the 2011-released, feature-length documentary Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune, charting the American artist/activisit, politcal/folk singer songwriter's prolific seven-album career makes for poignant viewing at the ouset of this present-time presidential election year.
This beautifully made film by director Ken Boswer immerses viewers in a well documented era of immense political unrest through scores of archival footage, evocative photos and personal remembrances by Och's close friends, his family, fellow activists and music industry veterans, including the likes of Billy Bragg, Sean Penn, Joan Baez to Pete Seeger.
Renowned for his sharp wit, sardonic humor and haunting voice, Ochs' hundreds of songs written before his death at age 35, touched on many of the most troubling social and political issues at the heart of the folk and protest song movement in the 60s and early 70s, raising critical questions through lyrics ripped directly from the day to day stuff that filled the pages of the New York Times.
By the time of his death in 1976, the FBI had a dossier on him that was more than 400 pages long, believing Ochs to have had no respect for government policies during a time of war. The Ochs we get to know in this detailed, hour-and-a-half-long film was of the firm belief that he and his music would change the world.
Phil Ochs' lyrics were far more complex than those of mass appeal penned by the more mainstream folk hero of the day, his contemporary, Bob Dylan. It's perhaps not hard to understand how Ochs' passionate and enthralling pursuit of justice would eventually lead to a mental health breakdown that would bring an untimely end to such an inspirational and remarkable musician.
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