If you weren’t able to watch (or, ahem, somehow “acquire”) the documentary film Bowie: The Last Five Years when it screened on the BBC last month, then rejoice, because the film is coming to American screens soon. As per a press release issued today, HBO has acquired the U.S. TV rights to the film.
As its name suggests, Bowie: The Last Five Years catalogues what would turn out to be the last five years of the great man’s life, and also a period of creativity to rival his pretty much flawless run throughout the 1970s. It was directed by Francis Whately, who’s quoted as saying, “Looking at Bowie’s extraordinary creativity during the last five years of his life has allowed me to reexamine his life’s work and move beyond the simplistic view that his career was simply predicated on change.”
As we reported in January, the film includes interviews with collaborators both musical and visual — there’s The Next Day cover artist Jonathan Barnbrook; Johan Renck, who directed the symbolism-laden videos for “Blackstar” and “Lazarus”; Lazarus (the stage show) producer Robert Fox; and musicians Maria Schneider and Donny McCaslin. And there’s also apparently in-studio footage, vocal tracks, and some audio involving Bowie and producer Tony Visconti joking about mouse farts. There’s no word yet on a screening date; we will, of course, keep you updated on such matters.