Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song is a definitive exploration of legendary singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally-renowned hymn, “Hallelujah.” Inspired by the book?The Holy or the Broken: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & the Unlikely Ascent of Hallelujah?by Alan Light, Leonard’s story is told here by those who knew and loved him, including record executive Clive Davis and collaborator Judy Collins, who chart Leonard’s life, from his beginnings as a child from a wealthy family in Montreal through his multi-year stint in a Zen monastery—as a man and an artist. The film spotlights the writing, recording, and singing of the song “Hallelujah” and its ever-evolving lyrics, performed here by a multitude of artists, including Bono, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan and k.d. lang, a song that’s been sung everywhere from weddings and funerals to Coachella and movie soundtracks.  Emmy-award winning co-directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine bring us this in-depth exploration of an artist and his process, weaving intimate interviews with rarely seen personal and performance archival footage. (Dir. by Daniel Geller & Dayna Goldfine, 2021, USA, 115 mins., Rated PG-13)