Dec, 2009 Still Bill: Bill Withers

Still Bill, 2009 118 min (See Trailer)
Director: Damani Baker,Alex Vlack

Thursday,Dec. 3, 7pm,
General Admission $5.00

Ice Theaters Chatham
210 West 87th Street
Chicago, IL 60620

SYNOPSIS
STILL BILL is an intimate portrait of soul legend Bill Withers, best known for his classics “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean On Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Grandma’s Hands,” and “Just the Two of Us.” With his soulful delivery and warm, heartfelt sincerity, Withers has written the songs that have – and always will – resonate deeply within the fabric of our times.

Filmmakers Damani Baker and Alex Vlack follow Withers and offer a unique and rare look inside the world of this fascinating man. Through concert footage, journeys to his birthplace, interviews with music legends, his family and closest friends, STILL BILL presents the story of an artist who has written some of the most beloved songs in our time and who truly understands the heart and soul of a man.
[vimeo 7121839 600]

“Still Bill doesn’t get into the specifics of the conflicts between Withers and Columbia Records back then; that information is out there for those who want to look. Instead, it gives us a look at Withers’ life and personality to perhaps explain why he was able to just walk away from show business when many other men would fight the labels or do whatever was necessary to stay in the public eye. It’s not so much that he’s a man at peace with himself – indeed, he’s wise enough to say, in a roundabout sort of way, that his calm demeanor owes as much to shyness as it does to contentment. He is fairly content; one of the aphorisms he offers to the camera and to his children is “on the way to wonderful, you’ll pass through all right. Stop and take a look around, because you may be staying,” and he does seem to be all right with all right.” Jay Seaver, efilmcritic.com