LADIES & GENTLEMEN, MR. LEONARD COHEN ('65) + LIVE AT ISLE OF WIGHT 1970

A Celebration of Leonard Cohen on Film: LADIES & GENTLEMEN...MR. LEONARD COHEN + LEONARD COHEN: LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970

On the tenth anniversary of Leonard Cohen's passing, The Philosophical Research Society's 7th House presents a special double feature celebrating the legendary poet, songwriter, and performer through two remarkable films documenting his early years.

Throughout his six-decade career, Leonard Cohen's intrepid quest for truth and beauty led him through many transformations: from bright-eyed, post-collegiate bard to silver-tongued, brooding troubadour, from gruff, cigarette-and-whiskey-soaked Casanova to Zen Buddhist high priest of song. His early days, though, as he grew from literary star into one of the most revered songwriters of any generation, are arguably his most fascinating. Placed side by side, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... MR. LEONARD COHEN (1965) and LEONARD COHEN: LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970 (2009) serve as spellbinding documents of that transformation.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... MR. LEONARD COHEN

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1965, two years before his recording career began, Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen is a jazzy, wonderfully intimate snapshot of Cohen the poet. It follows him at age 30, already renowned with three books of poetry and a novel under his belt, as he visits his wintry hometown of Montreal. As though mesmerized by his charisma, the cameras fix on him as he gives readings to enraptured audiences, records excerpts from his book, gets a haircut (and takes a bath!), and wanders the snowy streets, observing the world as if taking notes for future verses.

Dirs. Donald Brittain & Don Owen, 1965, 45 mins., Canada, English, Unrated, Digital.

LEONARD COHEN: LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970 (Dir. Murray Lerner, 2009, 64 mins.)

Five years and two albums later, at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival, Cohen was roused from sleep at four in the morning. He took to the stage, scruffy, bleary-eyed, and sporting his pajamas, before an enormous, restless crowd. The festival was notorious for its bad vibes, but once Cohen and his outstanding band began to play, he hypnotized the masses with what would become one of his most mythic performances. At turns shambolic, rousing, and haunting, the set was packed with some of his greatest songs, including a spellbinding early rendition of "Famous Blue Raincoat." Fortunately, Academy Award-winning documentarian Murray Lerner was there to capture it. Unseen for nearly four decades before its eventual release in 2009, this remarkable concert film remains a rare sight on the big screen, making this screening an especially precious opportunity to experience Cohen at the height of his early powers. To watch Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 is to bear witness to Cohen's ascent, from poet and folk singer into the stratosphere of legends.

Dir. Murray Lerner, 1970/2009, 64 mins., UK, English, Unrated, Digital.

Ten years after his passing, Leonard Cohen's voice, wit, wisdom, and wonderfully enigmatic spirit remain as captivating as ever. Rarely seen together, these two films capture his dramatic metamorphosis over just five years and offer a chance to experience his singular spell on the big screen.

Very special thanks to the National Film Board of Canada and the Murray Lerner estate.

Tickets: $12 (All Screenings Are In Person Only)

Please email events@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.