Frank Zappa (1940-1993) was a musical innovator with a socially critical and sharply analytical view of the world, an enigmatic rock star, and one of the most important composers of the second half of the 20th century. During his lifetime, he released more than sixty albums, and after his death, he left behind an impressive archive known as The Vault, to be kept by his four children and wife.
Director Alex Winter (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure) was given unlimited access to performances, interviews, family scenes, and animated films for this long-awaited documentary, exploring the private life behind the enormous musical career. ZAPPA features appearances by Frank’s widow Gail Zappa and several of his musical collaborators including Mike Keneally, Ian Underwood, Steve Vai, Pamela Des Barres, Bunk Gardner, David Harrington, Scott Thunes, Ruth Underwood, Ray White and others.
In Alex Winter’s own words, he wanted to ’tell a story that is not a music doc, or a conventional biopic, but the dramatic saga of a great American artist and thinker; a film that would set out to convey the scope of Zappa’s prodigious and varied creative output, and the breadth of his extraordinary personal and political life.‘
His thoroughful approach was recognized by selection comittees of festivals across the globe, such as CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, SXSW in Austin, Texas and IDFA in Amsterdam.
Also to be seen and heard in De Balie:
Story of the lifelong romance that inspired numerous songs of Leonard Cohen, told through never-before-seen footage and interviews.
Portrayal of a long-lasting creative relationship through virgin renditions of songs from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ last two studio albums, ‘Ghosteen’ and ‘Carnage’.
The life of Charles Aznavour, seen through the eyes of Charles Aznavour with a selection out of the hundreds upon hundreds of hours of footage from his private collection.