Strummer died in 2002 of a heart attack. Temple never interviewed Strummer for the film, but he amasses a number of audio and video interviews so that Strummer still essentially has a chance to tell his own story. Temple attempts to hook up with not only his fellow Clash band members but other friends from the past and associates from his work in the film world. He avoids almost entirely standard talking heads style interviews. Instead he gathers some of his subjects around a campfire (something Strummer apparently liked to do) and chats with them informally in this outdoor venue. The whole thing feels like an impromptu reunion where people drink and reminisce about old times and Strummer. But Temple's choice to not identify anyone that he interviews can grow annoying, and if you don't know the players, you may get lost. Even if you are familiar with some of the people in Strummer's life, a number of them have aged to such a degree that you must do a double take to recall who they are. The end result is a documentary that feels very insider and exclusive, as if it were made for that circle of friends around the campfire.
The campfire in Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (IFC Films)
Temple's best moments tend to be with his archival finds like some old home movies cut to music. The home movies of Strummer as a young child convey a sense what his life was like and what a shock it must have been when his older brother died.
But the film suffers in comparison to the narrative biography of Ian Curtis, Control , which covers some similar musical ground, but with such fine craftsmanship. It may not be fair to compare documentary and narrative films, but since the two films arrive in such close proximity and explores similar musical history, it's hard not to think of them in relationship to each other. The Future is Unwritten shares too many of the same flaws as Glastonbury nor enough of the virtues of Temple's earlier documentary The Filth and the Fury about the Sex Pistols. The Strummer documentary is loosely structured and makes no attempt to engage those who may not already have some familiarity with Strummer.
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (unrated) does provide insights into Strummer and celebrates his art with enthusiasm. But it's probably best suited to those who are already fans.
Companion viewing: The Filth and the Fury, Control, Absolute Beginners -----
