With the Joan Baez documentary opening to a wider release this weekend, the legendary folk singer was joined by self-proclaimed acolyte Lana Del Rey at a screening for I Am a Noise Friday at Los Angeles’ Nuart Theatre for a conversation about the film and Baez’ legacy.
“The emotion you portray when you were 18 and now throughout the film is so relatable that it’s just been massively acclaimed already,” Del Rey said to Baez — who she called “the toughest woman I have ever met” and a “lioness” — in her opening comments.
“Just because of how specific your emotions were and how much solace people found in the vulnerability that you had in the film, which to me was the most unexpected thing. And on top of that, the stunning cinematography, and the seamless editing, just to me made it a classic film, especially since my favorite documentary since I was 18 was something you drew footage from, D.A. Pennebaker’s Dont Look Back, which is when I fell in love with you, Joan.”
Del Rey added of Joan Baez I Am a Noise, “It’s an instant classic and I think when somebody famous — or well-known as we like to be called — makes the film that’s the greatest compliment you can have that it wouldn’t even have mattered if it was just someone who was working in everyday job that it was just absolutely striking.”
Looking back at her life story on the big screen, Baez said, “I would say that if there’s something I’m really proud of in the film, is seeing that tunnel and going through it and coming out on the other side. I mean, there there are no phobias left, there are no panic attacks, the occasional ‘no,’ but nothing like the crippling stuff that it was for those years. So it takes work, but I would encourage anybody to deal with their demons at whatever level you possibly can.”
Baez added, “When I watch the movie, I think, ‘Oh, I did have fun. I did laugh. I did make people laugh.’ So looking back at it tends to get you know, more attracted to the darker side. And I don’t really feel that way anymore.
Del Rey and Baez previously appeared onstage together in 2019 when Lana coaxed Joan to make a surprise appearance at her Berkeley concert to perform Baez’ “Diamonds & Rust” together. Following that show, Baez and Del Rey went to an Afro-Caribbean two-step club where Baez demanded that Del Rey keep dancing as long as she did. The hangout later inspired Del Rey’s Chemtrails over the Country Club track “Dance Till We Die.”
“On behalf of all female, passionate, empathetic singers, may I say that then in that case, everyone here has witnessed a miracle. And I’d like to thank Joan for being a blueprint in that way,” Del Rey told Baez Friday. “Because it’s nice to see someone’s trajectory from nervousness to letting everything happen on life’s timeline. It was life’s timeline. You never know when you’re gonna get to that point if you get to that point. And I just want to say thank you.”
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