MARIANNE & LEONARD: WORDS OF LOVE: A Love Story That Loses Its Focus
The relationship between artist and muse is typically a tumultuous one, and the romance between Leonard Cohen and Marianne Ihlen is no exception. Nick Broomfield’s documentary Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love sets out to explore this enigmatic love story. Marianne was also a source of inspiration for the director, who is quick to inform viewers that he once had a brief affair with her. In a sense, this makes Broomfield a fitting filmmaker to document this story. Despite his history with Marianne, Broomfield spends more time examining Leonard Cohen’s career, which makes for a very scattershot film.
From Hydra to “Hallelujah”
Before Leonard was a famous musician, he met Marianne on the Greek island of Hydra. The two of them initially had an idyllic romance. But things took a turn once they moved away from the island.
Marianne and Leonard had an on-and-off relationship that spanned decades. At times it was a romance, and at others, it was a friendship. But they kept in contact until 2016, when they died nearly three months apart. In fact, the media widely circulated (and often misquoted) Leonard’s final letter to Marianne. That letter is even featured multiple times in Broomfield’s documentary.
Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love is at its strongest when it looks at the relationship between Marianne and Leonard. Unfortunately, the film frequently loses its focus. Sometimes it feels more like a movie about the Greek island of Hydra or about Leonard Cohen’s music. If it weren’t for the title, it would be difficult to grasp what the film’s subject matter is truly meant to be.
The title is actually quite misleading. The fact that Marianne’s name comes before Leonard’s makes it seem as though she’ll be the primary focus. Marianne Ihlen was so much more than a muse, but the film doesn’t do enough to shed light on that fact. There was plenty of potential for this to be a fascinating film about the problematic nature of the artist-muse relationship, but it ultimately becomes a disjointed documentary about the evolution of Leonard Cohen.
Intimate and Inconsistent
During its best moments, Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love is a beautifully intimate depiction of love. Broomfield’s use of sun-kissed home movie footage and personal audio recordings makes the film feel like a scrapbook of memories. Watching Marianne and Leonard laughing and smiling during their blissful time on the island creates a haunting effect.
Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love lacks a strong thematic through-line and the film’s editing doesn’t help alleviate that haphazard feeling. The pacing of the film is also inconsistent and makes the film feel sluggish. Sometimes the editing takes on a dream-like quality but many scenes seem sloppily pieced together.
Some of the interview subjects help infuse energy into the film. One of the best examples of this is Aviva Layton, the widow of poet Irving Layton. She dishes out plenty of thought-provoking, insightful, and amusing comments. She remarks, “Poets do not make great husbands. You can’t own them.” This turns out to be an astute assessment of Leonard Cohen’s history with women.
Conclusion: Marianne & Leonard: Word of Love
Nick Broomfield’s Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love fails to live up to the promise of its title. It doesn’t do enough to make a statement about the artist-muse relationship and doesn’t spend enough time giving insight into who Marianne Ihlen was. If it weren’t for Marianne, Leonard Cohen probably would have never pursued a career in music. He certainly wouldn’t have written some of his most famous songs like “So Long, Marianne” and “Bird on the Wire” if it weren’t for her. Marianne even inspired Broomfield to make his first film. She is the very reason why this documentary exists and yet the film doesn’t give her the attention she deserves.
If the film stayed true to its title, it would have had a solid focal point. Instead, it feels as though Broomfield wasn’t sure whether he wanted to make a movie about Marianne and Leonard’s relationship, Hydra, 1960s counterculture, or Leonard’s career. Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love features quite a few powerful and poignant moments, but its lack of focus bogs the film down.
What’s your favorite music documentary? Let us know in the comments below.
Watch Marianne & Leonard: Word of Love
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