Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You

Thom Zimny captures perfectly the emotional mindset of Bruce Springsteen who leads the E-Street Band on a journey through the early years of The Castiles. Bruce is the only living member of his youthful band, The Castiles, and he looks fondly at the memories that have moulded him into the present master songwriter. He also pays respect to those who have moved on from this world, and to childhood memories that have left an everlasting impression. All through a depth of emotional charged music and stunning images.

We all get to a certain age where we look back on our past and reminisce in certain ways. Springsteen does so with music and this insightful documentary by Zimmy. The bareness and rawness of the black and white photography captures the process of producing an album by a group of legends who have lived to tell the tale. A most wondrous way for any musician to learn the craft of collaborating creatively.

I dig docs telling the story of "teams" and "brotherhoods" and in this way Letter delivers but, as noted, the music is tired and Bruce.at times, sounds a little too full of himself. It's worth a watch.

Springsteen is ageing; in recent years he has written his (excellent) memoir, and his music has become more ruminative in keeping with that project. This is on the face of it a fairly simple behind the scenes music documentary, with a few glimpses of craft and band dynamics and a handful of thoughts on each song from the album of the same name aa the film. It's elevated by the economic depth of Springsteen's insight and the beauty of his spoken commentaries and sung words. He is always worth listening to, this man who a wise person once called America's greatest living theologian; a prophetic and pastoral voice who we're lucky to have. Long may he continue.

I've grown up with a respect for Springsteen's longevity and success without ever really buying in as a fan of his catalog of music personally.. I'm officially a believer of the wealth of talent that I under appreciated for too long. The collaboration of musical talent that breathes life into every song played with obvious reverence to the artist that created them is simply brilliant..

'Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You' (2020) really is just a letter to "you". With "you" being all the people from Bruce's life who have shaped him and in this film/album its for those who have passed on. Springsteen reminisces of his youth growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s.

At his recording studio in New Jersey with the E Street Band, Springsteen writes, records, and details the meaning of each song from the album. The only survivor from his first recorded band, The Castiles, Springsteen grieves but remains driven as music remains his only outlet during tough times. With touching tributes to former bandmates, this film is really a behind the scenes look at his critically acclaimed 2020 album, 'Letter to You'. The black-and-white film and and personal interviews make the film unique as it is not a regular film or documentary but styled as a mixture.

Overall its pretty good, but is really meant for Bruce Springsteen fans especially those have listened to the album. But those who are older or have lost those close to them can relate to Springsteen's grief and perseverance to carry on for those who have left. Give it a watch if these topics speak to you.