trendaway.com

This afternoon’s screening of the elusive Chet Baker documentary Let’s Get Lost was especially exciting due to the panel discussion centering around the film’s director, and world-famous photographer, Bruce Weber. I had been trying to get my hands on a copy of this film for years. Finally I was able to see it in its entirety, in the festival’s second most uncomfortable theatre. What made up for the extremely uncomfortable seat was was the announcement that the print of this film had just recently been restored and that it would be “beautiful” - and that it was.

There’s so much to say about Chet and this film that I’m going to try not to. His music is brilliant and exhibits such moods that it’s no wonder that his personal life was so unique. Weber did an incredible job of putting us in a place where we think we understand him, as much as you can understand somebody from another planet. We love and trust him and a minute later we think he is vile and manipulative. But through it all is the music, which was Chet’s way of both dealing with his problems and forgetting about them.

I have been a great fan of Chet Baker for over ten years and it was amazing to not only watch the film, but hear stories and anecdotes from Bruce. His love for Chet as a person, not just a subject, is apparent. There is a gentle grace in this film’s photography. This is a beautiful film that I hope will soon finally be released on DVD.