THE PINK FLOYD & SYD BARRETT STORY

Reviewing the phenomenal Rush's "Beyond the lighted stage" documentary I mentioned The Beatles Anthology and this one as the few worth rock documentaries made on the subject of a music group history that can relate for both fans and non-fans alike. This one briefly tells the story of the ascension of Pink Floyd under the guidance of his early mentor and his well-known fall into mental illness that led him to be fired from the group.

From a non-fan point of view I think that the main interesting line of the movie is how a bright and sympathetic young folk lost himself in his first steps to the path of glory. I don't think it's preachy about the drugs subject but you can't talk about Syd's oblivion without mentioning this component that expanded his mental health issues. As a parent it's scary and as a fan it's real sad. The musical component of the story is well-balanced with the life of Syd portion and specially his last Floyd songs are well-explored (Vegetable Man e.g.) to explain his situation at the time, along with his short solo work.

Maybe the most touchyg part of the film is the Floyd members recollection of the Wish you were here sessions, which is actually the only non-Syd Floyd era that is explored on the documentary. It's a profoundly sad part of the band's history at a time when things are slowly starting to fall apart among the members.

All in all it's an interesting, important and depressing movie. But who said that life (and music) is all about joy and happiness?

For any Floyd fan it's an easy 5 stars. Considering the non-fan I think it's a 4 star movie, so I opted for this rating.