TIFF: Moonage Daydream, a kaleidoscopic dive into David Bowie’s life

It’s been nearly seven years since David Bowie died, and for many of his fans, it’s still hard to come to terms with.

He left behind a long legacy as one of the most important musicians of the 20th century, but who exactly was the man behind the makeup and frequent costume changes?

https://twitter.com/JamesMackin10/status/1568036864145215488

Moonage Daydream is the first documentary to be made with the explicit approval of Bowie’s estate, and it features an intimate look at the artist that few have seen. With hours upon hours of home footage, personal concert footage, and the writings and musings of the artist himself, this documentary is like taking a glimpse into the mind of the man formerly known as Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and many more personalities.

The film opens with a quote from the artist in which he deciphers Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous quote, “God is dead… and we have killed him.” Without the morality of God and the order that brings to society, as written by Nietzsche, how will society move forward amidst all the chaos?

David Bowie, Moonage Daydream 2022.

Bowie saw himself as a way to represent the chaos via his frequent personality changes and constant embrace of the new. The 20th century was his, and it was his purpose to help people come to terms with the constant duality of order and chaos. With numerous trippy segments, the film leans into the constant changes of his life and recreates that experience for the viewer.

Director Brett Morgan (who previously made Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck) makes this film so that it is chaotic. It jumps around in time and space. One moment, you’re watching Ziggy sing Moonage Daydream, the next, you’re hearing Bowie discuss why he died his hair platinum blonde for his album Let’s Dance in 1983. And the film doesn’t just focus on his music, it looks at all the art he created.

From the paintings hidden from the public to his performances in films like Labyrinth, the Man Who Fell to Earth and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, this documentary does it all.

The film doesn’t function fully well as an introduction to Bowie however, it’s not a film about explaining the legacy of his career. There are no talking heads, no interviews with family or friends. The film is entirely Bowie, his concert performances, and occasional interviews he did years ago.

This film is more for the true Bowie fans, people who love all of his albums and can’t get enough of him. But for anyone just discovering the joy of Bowie, Moonage Daydream is now required viewing.

In the years to come, this will make a fantastic double feature with Velvet Goldmine (the best narrative film about Bowie).

You can check this film out at the festival or on September 16 when it comes to theatres.