2007-11-24 17:53:55喬治鎊

2007金馬影展-未定之天 Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (Julien Temple, 2007)

Who is Joe Strummer? It would be one of the most stupid questions to ask when you own an album of “The Clash”, and I happen to be one of the kind who doesn’t know who he was before the movie starts.

As a son of a diplomat, Strummer had been to far more countries than any other person had, and that builds his concept of without boundaries. His artistic talents had shown very early when he was only a teenager, and he traveled all around the world and tried many different experiences. After all, of course, he decided to be a musician, a rock star.

He started 2 bands before “The Clash” not because that they didn’t work well, but because he knew that he has to move on. So “The Clash” formed a mature concept of Strummer’s believe in music. By the time there were also “Sex Pistol,” but Strummer got the name as “the father of punk rock.” It’s not entirely out of nowhere.

Through the lyrics Strummer wrote, clear and important messages such as anti-war, human rights and the unity of mankind are spread out with the powerful and effecting music. That sets his important status in the history of music.

As a person, he was nothing different from others. He could be insensitive to his close friends and even had doubts on his teammates. He also regretted about what he has done and tried to make it up afterwards. But the most important is that he knew perfectly what he needs to do at every step of his life.

Julien Temple did a great job on this documentary about one of the greatest musician of our time. The interesting footages and animation works make the image much richer, and the narration of his close friends, teammates and his fans that are also stars now makes the point of view more objective and convincing.

As a rock star, Strummer set a good model for the others. He never intended to do it after fame and fortune. His passion for life and the things he loved are also worthy learning from. As he said in the end of the movie, it took him a long time to realize that there are no limits in life, and a person can decide whatever his or her future will be and makes life as meaningful as his to others.