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Spirit Unforgettable
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Wikipedia article
'Spirit Unforgettable' is a Canadian documentary film, which premiered at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2016.Norman Wilner, [https://nowtoronto.com/movies/hot-docs-2016/spirit-unforgettable/ "Spirit Unforgettable"]. 'NOW', April 26, 2016. Directed by Pete McCormack,[http://www.torontosun.com/2016/04/29/unforgettable-spirit-of-the-west-documentary "'Unforgettable' Spirit Of The West documentary"]. 'Toronto Sun', April 29, 2016. the film profiles the Canadian folk rock band Spirit of the West in preparation for a 2015 concert at Massey Hall, as part of their farewell tour following lead singer John Mann's diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, interspersing the story of his diagnosis and the band's preparations for the concert with a portrait of their overall history.[http://www.chartattack.com/features/2016/05/05/spirit-unforgettable/ "In Spirit Unforgettable, early onset Alzheimers doesnt stop Spirit of the West"]. 'Chart Attack', May 5, 2016.
At the time of the Massey Hall concert, it was possible but not definitive that due to Mann's cognitive decline, the show may have become the band's last concert performance. The band did, however, ultimately perform a few more times following the show, most notably for a three-night series of finale performances at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom in April 2016.[http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-monday-may-2-2016-1.3561981/the-unforgettable-spirit-of-spirit-of-the-west-1.3561988 "The unforgettable spirit of Spirit of the West"]. 'Q', May 2, 2016.
Other figures appearing in the film include Mann's wife Jill Daum, an actress and playwright who has written her own theatrical play about Alzheimer's, 'Forget About Tomorrow'; musician Paul Hyde, a longtime friend and early collaborator of the band, who both talks about his relationship with the band and performs a rendition of his song "I Miss My Mind the Most";[https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/local-arts/legacy-of-john-mann-spirit-of-the-west-lovingly-told-in-poignant-documentary "Legacy of John Mann, Spirit of the West lovingly told in poignant documentary"]. 'Vancouver Sun', October 6, 2016. Mann and Daum's daughter Hattie Daumann; musician Craig Northey; the band's manager Janet Forsyth; former band member J. Knutson; and two of Mann's doctors.
McCormack, a longtime friend of the band, invested $100,000 of his own money in the film up front, telling 'The Globe and Mail' that "I had to go and dive in right away funding or no funding, because of the disease."[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/spirit-of-the-west-prepares-to-play-final-gig-as-john-mann-battles-alzheimers/article29618739/ "With front man John Mann battling early-onset Alzheimers, Spirit of the West prepares for its final gig"]. 'The Globe and Mail', April 13, 2016. The film did later secure funding, including a completion grant from the Shaw Media/Hot Docs Fund.[http://playbackonline.ca/2015/09/02/five-docs-to-get-latest-round-of-shaw-media-hot-docs-funds/ "Shaw Media-Hot Docs invests $120K across 5 projects"]. 'Playback', September 2, 2015.
Many critics have singled out the band's live performance of their signature song "Home for a Rest" near the end of the film, which saw the entire audience begin to sing along the moment Mann had a slip in remembering the lyrics, as its life-affirming emotional climax.[http://povmagazine.com/articles/view/review-spirit-unforgettable "Review: Spirit Unforgettable"]. 'Point of View', April 28, 2016.
The film aired on HBO Canada on July 1, 2016.[http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/intimate-documentary-explores-spirit-of-the-west-singer-s-journey-with-alzheimer-s-1.2966002 "Intimate documentary explores Spirit of the West singer's journey with Alzheimer's"]. CTV News, June 28, 2016.
Awards
At the 2016 Vancouver International Film Festival in October 2016, 'Spirit Unforgettable' won the award for Most Popular Canadian Documentary (based on audience balloting).[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/documentary-on-spirit-of-the-west-singer-wins-viff-award/article32380897/ "Documentary on Spirit of the West singer wins VIFF award"]. 'The Globe and Mail', October 14, 2016.
See also
*'Long Time Running'
References
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