Sympathy for the Devil

( 2 )

Overview

Jean-Luc Godard's Sympathy for the Devil, also known as One Plus One, uses both documentary and staged sequences, alternating between an inside look at a rock band's recording process and reflections on contemporary politics and aesthetics. One half of the film focuses on the Rolling Stones, as they rehearse and ultimately record the song that would become "Sympathy for the Devil." By presenting repeated takes of the entire composition, the film allows the viewer to witness the progressive evolution of the song ...
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Overview

Jean-Luc Godard's Sympathy for the Devil, also known as One Plus One, uses both documentary and staged sequences, alternating between an inside look at a rock band's recording process and reflections on contemporary politics and aesthetics. One half of the film focuses on the Rolling Stones, as they rehearse and ultimately record the song that would become "Sympathy for the Devil." By presenting repeated takes of the entire composition, the film allows the viewer to witness the progressive evolution of the song from its original, slower conception to the more percussive version that became the final recording. The other half of the film -- which is occasionally accompanied by the song -- presents a series of sequences dealing with issues like black power, pornography, racism, and Marxism, amongst others. These sequences, which often focus on a group of revolutionary youth in Paris, provide a chance for Godard to inject political commentary and meta-fictional musings on the nature of cinema. These more cerebral scenes serve as counterpoint to the direct presentation of the creative process seen in the Stones' studio sessions, and provide oblique commentary on the political meanings of popular music.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/18/1994
  • UPC: 038781100237
  • Original Release: 1968

    • Rating:

  • Source: Abkco
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
The Rolling Stones Themselves
Iain Quarrier Bookman
Nike Arrighi
Bernard Boston
Danny D. Daniels
Joanna David
Frankie Dymon Jr. Black Power Militant
Glenna Forster-Jones
Sean Lynch Voice Only
Francoise Pascal
Illario Pedro
Roy Stewart
Anne Wiazemsky Eve Democracy
Technical Credits
Jean-Luc Godard Director, Screenwriter
Agnès Guillemot Editor
Michael Pearson Producer
Iain Quarrier Producer
Tony Richmond Cinematographer
Ken Rowles Editor
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 2 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(2)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

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2 Star

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1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    This is brilliant

    At the beginning, the Stones appear to be the artists and the black men reading treatises of various kinds appear to be living in the world of day-to-day life. By the end, this reality will flip around--and the conflicts in society have become fodder for art and the art has taken form, become a reality that will be played over and over, around the world. I believe Jean luc-Godard has shown art is real, events are real, and they are also what we make them, and the worst ugliness and the highest beauty mix in life to lift us up. It's an unbelievable work.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 10, 2000

    A must see for stones fans and seventies fans

    A real period piece. Look back on how it was in the studio with the stones during the begger's banquet (their best album) era. See Brian Jones and all his aloofness. Watch the druged out crazed chemistry that was the band's peak. A fasinating look into a studio durning the stones heyday, the directors famous artsy touches are interesting also. Show only in limited realese in Artsy cinemas, way back when. It was close to sex in rock you can get it has no plot. Strange what 30 years can do.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    skip the in-between nonsense

    If there were a way to delete all the political satire that is thrown in, between utterly AMAZING footage of the Stones' development of this fantastic song, then i'd have to say that this was the best music VHS tape I ever bought. Now that it's available on DVD, i will definately purchase it, since it will be so easy to skip through the non-Stones interruptions. This is a MUST for fans of the Stones, and fans of 60s music, in general. You won't be sorry.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 25, 2002

    Garbage in, garbage out

    This video is exactly what the title says: ''sympathy for the Devil''. When one considers how much grief and misery drugs and the occult have brought to society as a whole, it is a wonder that people haven't risen up to rid the world of this filth. The Stones are the ''poster boys'' for this `vomitus¿ chicanery. One day, though, it's all coming to a screeching halt. Maranatha! Be wise and stay away from this.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews