The Gift was warmly received at its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. Through a combination of Cash's musical performances (with an emphasis on his famous 1968 recording at Folsom Prison), autobiographical audio tapes of Cash speaking about his life late in his life, photography and interviews with his family and friends, this documentary draws a remarkable and complicated portrait of Cash's difficult and remarkable life. It presents a complete picture of his life including his rise from poverty, the tragic death of his brother, his troubled first marriage, and his struggles with addiction. And yet, the audience also sees his remarkable talent and his efforts to confront his traumas through his music. The film also captures his activism on behalf of Native Americans and the deep and powerful role of his Christian faith in his life and his music which spanned genres and generations. This documentary is extremely well-made and serves as a fitting tribute a musical icon. It will be enjoyed by both hard core and casual fans of the "Man in Black."
4 Reviews
Fascinating insight
RubyMouse6 August 2020
It's a cliche that no one speaks ill of the dead: when those you are depicting have some control over the story - as in the movie Walk the Line - awkward truths tend to be swept aside. Here a little more of the truth seeps out to give depth to the complexities of Johnny Cash's life and a glimpse of a time so different from our own its hard to believe it was less than a century ago. That alone makes this an interesting watch and some of the archive material overlaid with John's own commentary is fascinating.
A deep and compelling doc.
SnobReviews15 April 2020
"The Gift: The Journey Of Johnny Cash" is another beautiful film from director Thom Zimny that really puts into perspective the angels and demons in Johnny Cash's life.
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In this documentary, singer/songwriter Johnny Cash stands among the giants of 20th century American life, but his story remains tangled in mystery and myth. This documentary brings Cash the man out from behind the legend.
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Finally got around to seeing this doc and boy was I hooked. From the opening frame to the emotional finale, Zimny is a masterful filmmaker when it comes to telling stories through music. He digs deep into the subconscious to bring out what is hidden in Cash's life and even his music. After watching this film you will feel closer to Johnny Cash than ever before. You can stream this fantastic doc for free on YouTube now.
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Better than Walk the Line!
graceclark-5864228 September 2023
Watching this documentary for the first time, and I've watched a few documentaries on the Man in Black. Very fascinating and in-depth, not only using interviews with Johnny Cash himself but more importantly with people who knew him; such as Rick Ruben, Roseanne Cash, Bruce Springsteen, John Carter Cash, even Sam Phillips. I would say this is the best documentary about Johnny Cash himself and his life because it has many collaborators that had important insight into life back then, and how life was for Johnny.
If you were disappointed with Walk the Line, or were curious for the more deeper story behind the cheap Hollywood glamor, this is the better movie in my opinion. We still don't quite know the full scope of some of the darkest sins of Cash, (and it's really none of our business) but we get hints and oddly enough sometimes the hints are better than secrets exposed.
This is also one of the only documentaries so far on Cash's side that pays more sympathetic attention to his first marriage. I was surprised to hear Cash talking fondly about the early years between them, and the days in Memphis. It was great to hear that there was a part of him still that even loved the days before he was famous, and yet he never says that he regrets following his dream. He openly regretted the drug use, and the suffering he caused to Vivian and his family, but clearly he felt a powerful need to sing his heart out before people.
Johnny Cash is one of those men that is so relatable, and likable to all who have struggled in life and are honest about it. How difficult being a musician was in the 50s and 60s, and it's easier to understand with this movie how easy it was to fall into drugs unwittingly! I for one did not know how little was known about amphetamines and barbiturates then, and I'm sure not very many people did either.
And although the love story of him and June has been revisited so many times, there is a deeper sweetness in the home movies here. It's unusual for me to say that I can feel the love he had for her, just by looking at them together. And to hear that they didn't simply live happily ever after, had tremendous problems but still decided to stay committed in marriage was inspiring. The family doesn't share this knowledge to air dirty laundry but to share how complex Johnny and June were, which not very many people know how to do well. They still fought yes, and I'm sure there were moments they were ready to strangle each other but they didn't let their problems destroy them. The love of the Hollywood Walk the Line, like in all Hollywood movies, was simplistically cliche and the fuller story is more intriguing. I think that love grows deeper through trials, if you're willing to hold tight together.
Also his faith in God increases his interest to me, there are very few men in the music world that are so open about the faith they have. And to have unflinchingly continued forward after the Christian hating record company and fans dropped him for being a man of faith, what a hero! Had no idea that he paid such a price for years for his commitment to God. Bless him for rediscovering such respect that he deserved before his death!
Watch this, you won't regret it.
If you were disappointed with Walk the Line, or were curious for the more deeper story behind the cheap Hollywood glamor, this is the better movie in my opinion. We still don't quite know the full scope of some of the darkest sins of Cash, (and it's really none of our business) but we get hints and oddly enough sometimes the hints are better than secrets exposed.
This is also one of the only documentaries so far on Cash's side that pays more sympathetic attention to his first marriage. I was surprised to hear Cash talking fondly about the early years between them, and the days in Memphis. It was great to hear that there was a part of him still that even loved the days before he was famous, and yet he never says that he regrets following his dream. He openly regretted the drug use, and the suffering he caused to Vivian and his family, but clearly he felt a powerful need to sing his heart out before people.
Johnny Cash is one of those men that is so relatable, and likable to all who have struggled in life and are honest about it. How difficult being a musician was in the 50s and 60s, and it's easier to understand with this movie how easy it was to fall into drugs unwittingly! I for one did not know how little was known about amphetamines and barbiturates then, and I'm sure not very many people did either.
And although the love story of him and June has been revisited so many times, there is a deeper sweetness in the home movies here. It's unusual for me to say that I can feel the love he had for her, just by looking at them together. And to hear that they didn't simply live happily ever after, had tremendous problems but still decided to stay committed in marriage was inspiring. The family doesn't share this knowledge to air dirty laundry but to share how complex Johnny and June were, which not very many people know how to do well. They still fought yes, and I'm sure there were moments they were ready to strangle each other but they didn't let their problems destroy them. The love of the Hollywood Walk the Line, like in all Hollywood movies, was simplistically cliche and the fuller story is more intriguing. I think that love grows deeper through trials, if you're willing to hold tight together.
Also his faith in God increases his interest to me, there are very few men in the music world that are so open about the faith they have. And to have unflinchingly continued forward after the Christian hating record company and fans dropped him for being a man of faith, what a hero! Had no idea that he paid such a price for years for his commitment to God. Bless him for rediscovering such respect that he deserved before his death!
Watch this, you won't regret it.
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