While Andrea and I were over on Disney+ catching up on The Mandalorian and Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur, I noticed a banner on the site promoting a new documentary featuring Bono and the Edge from U2 and David Letterman.
What the what? How is this a thing? Why is this a thing?
“Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, with Dave Letterman” is a documentary centered around Bono and the Edge performing some stripped down and slightly re-worked U2 classics at a tiny theater in Dublin.
But it's beyond just U2's front men doing an "unplugged" set of U2's hits. It's a story about U2's journey as it parallels Ireland's development. Ireland's not an easy nation to live in, to survive let alone thrive. It's a nation that was the center of violence driven by political and religious schisms but has over time learned to be a peace with itself.
So why is David Letterman there?
Well, here's Bono's explanation: “The thing that Dave brought is that he brought the comedy to the tragedy. And you know, there’s a reason why Willie Shakespeare wrote that form. And our music is just better with him around, I thought. Musically, it was better just by him being in the room, kind of taking the piss out of it.”
Well, some of Letterman's classic snark does go a long way to deflating any pomposity relating to the impact U2 and Ireland have had on each other but interestingly, David Letterman comes across as sincere and respectful of both the history and legacy of Ireland and the power and artistry of U2's music.
There's a genuine sense of David Letterman's unexpected joy of just being out of the house and getting to meet new people. In addition to chatting with Bono and the Edge, Dave interacts with Glen Hansard, an Irish singer and actor; the two compares the magnificence of their respective beard. Dave interviews an Irish drag queen who made her name performing shows in Japan because she didn't feel safe in Ireland. Seeing U2 on tour when they came to Japan convinced her to return to Ireland.
Dave hangs out with regular people at various Irish stores and bars where after all these years he can still find the humor of everyday life.
Dave goes to a sea side spot known as "The Forty Foot": Irish folk go out in the icy cold Atlantic waters at all seasons of the year. At first David Letterman demures from going out into the water of the Forty Foot but at the end of the film, with a grimace and a grim, he wades triumphantly into the icy sea.
On the soundtrack is a new original song that Bono and the Edge wrote especially for Dave, "The Forty Foot Man".
It's a little weird that a documentary about U2 is missing two of it's members, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton. Their absence is briefly addressed, Dave gets a couple of jokes out of it and there is a credit at the end where Bono and the Edge thank Larry and Adam for letting them do this.
"A Sort of Homecoming" is a beautifully constructed documentary about Irish life, history and culture and the parallel story of U2. David Letterman's inclusion provides the expected laughs but an unexpected earnestness. Letterman has a deep and abiding appreciation for what he finds in Dublin, Ireland and his affection for the people is palpable.
Next week's Touchbase takes a look at two new series that have gotten my attention.
Until next time, remember to be good to one another and try to keep it down in there, would ya? I'm trying to watch TV over here.
No comments:
Post a Comment