Screening of Townes Van Zandt Biography

Ballroom Marfa is bringing the critically acclaimed biographical film, BE HERE TO LOVE ME, to Marfa prior to its North American theatrical release on December 6. Screenings: November 19, 8pm and November 20, 2pm at the Goode-Crowley Theatre. The film screenings are free to the public.

Director, Margaret Brown focuses on Van Zandt's decision to live his life for his art - to "blow everything off...get a guitar and go!" BE HERE TO LOVE ME is an artful, expertly directed portrait of Van Zandt's life and career and features Willie Nelson, Steve Shelly of Sonic Youth, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Kris Kristofferson, among many others.

Brown says, "Guy [Clark] told me that Townes' songs work because of negative space. It's the holes you leave, he said. I wanted Be Here To Love Me to work in the same way - not by spelling out every detail of his life, but by presenting details that are often more telling than dates or facts. By juxtaposing voiceover with performance, traveling in time to present effect before cause, and letting the audience make up their own mind about whether Townes' decision to drop his family and most trappings of normal life to "get a guitar and go" was worth it, I felt that this would create a more emotionally true film."

Townes Van Zandt is widely recognized as a true songwriter's songwriter. Van Zandt had a profound impact on generations of musicians from Bob Dylan to Norah Jones, yet he avoided the commercial success enjoyed by many of his own fans. A musician whose brillance and lyrical insight made him popular amongst true fans and other musicians. Having released dozens of albums since the mid 1960, Van Zandt, who died in 1997, solidified his place in America's musical pantheon.