A film documenting the life of American music icon Glen Campbell will open the Oscar-qualifying Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival on Oct. 10.
The film, "Glen Campbell ... I'll Be Me," is directed and produced by James Keach ("Walk The Line") and Trevor Albert ("Because of Winn Dixie," "Groundhog Day"), and is "a powerful portrait of the life and career" of the country music legend, according to a release by the HSDFF.
Because of his Arkansas roots, HSDFF Executive Director Courtney Pledger said she expects opening night to be an overwhelming success.
"Opening night will be huge, there's no question about that," she said. "Everyone I've mentioned this film to has just said 'I've got to see that,' and their eyes light up because he's so special to Arkansas."
With hit songs like "Rhinestone Cowboy," "Wichita Lineman" and "Gentle on my Mind," the singer and winner of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was the first country music star to cross over to the pop charts.
In 2011, Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and joined with his family to complete three-week "Goodbye Tour," which quickly turned into a triumphant, 151-show, nationwide tour.
"People can expect a lot of entertainment and a lot of laughs in this film," Pledger said. "But it's not without depth of feeling. There will be a lot of tears, but it's ultimately about the human spirit -- Glen's spirit."
Pledger said the film ultimately deals with the disease, which Campbell and his wife, Kim, made history with by going public with his diagnosis; however, she said it's much more than that.
"It's a film about family," she said. "It's the story of how one family banded together to support their father and their year and a half on the road with his final tour."
The film features interviews with Bill Clinton, The Edge, Vince Gill, Jay Leno, Steve Martin, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, as well as many others.
Pledger said she had been following the film's progress from the beginning, adding that clips were shared at the 2012 festival.
"To go from those segments of a film that was far from finished to a completed piece of work two years later is very exciting," she said.
Keach and Albert will be on hand during the film's screening, along with Campbell's wife and children Ashley, Cal and Shannon, who all appear in the film. There will be a live performance by Ashley and Shannon of their original song from the film.
"It will be a big night for music at the Arlington (Resort Hotel & Spa)," Pledger said.
According to the release, the film shows the perseverance of the singer when most would have walked away from the industry.
"Here was a man that was told to hang up his guitar, go home and enjoy what life he had left," said Keach. "But he wanted to sing, laugh, make love, play music and celebrate life until it was taken from him," adding that Campbell was the "most brilliant country boy I had ever met."
"There were ups and downs, but the highs far outweighed the lows. Glen was full of love and light, and even in the darkest times of his confusion, he always showed signs of his true self."
Local on 08/20/2014