Eleven years in the making, [title]Patti Smith: Dream of Life[/title] is a unique and intimate portrait of the renowned singer, songwriter, poet and activist. Patti Smith's music, poetry, and politics are fearless, funny, raw, and original.

Photographer-director Steven Sebring creates a beautiful collage of images, memories and performances illuminating the complexities and capturing the essence of this distinctive, legendary icon. The film follows Patti Smith's punk-icon roots in the 70s through the trials of daily life and untimely deaths that have formed her life and art. Smith tells the story of her early days in New York City, the people that we dearest to her (her late husband Fred Sonic Smith, Allen Ginsburg, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others), her family, and the political causes for which she so deeply struggled.

Through beautiful cinematography, (both black and white, and color), Sebring captures the essence nature of this vital and relevant American artist.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FACHBO/?tag=imwan-20

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Also make note of the companion book:

http://www.imwan.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=38339

Even in NYC, I think this was in and out of theaters in one week, so I missed it. I'll be looking for the DVD.

It also only played a week in LA.
I saw it and loved it.
But then again, Patti is one of my favorites. Even though some of her albums are spotty, she has a great presence and I think the movie captured a lot of Patti's energy.

(Merged into pre-existing thread. -- Linda)

Musictap is reporting that the documentary on Patti Smith, Dream of Life, is going to appear on DVD come January 13th with extras including deleted scenes and an interview with Patti's son.

Excellent, I'll be buying that. Saw it in the cinema recently, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's more for fans than for a general audience - it definitely assumes a degree of familiarity with Smith's life and work - but an excellent, highly-personal film about/by one of my favourite contemporary artists.