The life and work of Eric Clapton will be shown in a documentary which will make its debut at the Toronto International Film festival next month. ‘Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars’ was directed by Lili Fini Zanuck and has been hailed as ‘an unflinching and deeply personal journey into the life of the legendary 18-time Grammy award -winner.’
The doc features contributions from Clapton’s family and friends, artists who have influenced him and musicians that he, himself has influenced.
A press blurb released for the film reads: “Spanning more than half a century of legendary popular musical innovation, the film contextualizes Eric Clapton’s role in contemporary music and cultural history.”
“This rare and deeply intimate film reflects on Clapton’s traumatic childhood, his long and difficult struggle with drugs and alcohol, the tragic loss of his son and how he always found his inner strength and healing in music.”
Director Zanuck told Variety the following in February: “Clapton’s music is the foundation of our film. His commitment to the blues, its traditions and originators, is absolute from his earliest days.
“He was also forever restless in his search of a suitable vehicle to shape and grow his artistic voice, often bewildering fans and the media with sudden changes in musical direction, bands, songs, guitar style, tone and physical appearance.”
Clapton’s personal life has been described as the “spine of the film” as Zanuck added: “It is indeed a melancholic victory lap, full of nostalgic myth, but always musically potent, always looking to the future.
“Despite the fact that his path is strewn with tragedies, addiction and loss, he never fails to regain his bearings and continue to serve what he holds dearest – his music.”
The film has not been given an exact screening time yet, although the Toronto Film Festival takes place from the 7th to the 17th of September 2017. It will then air on Showtime in the US in 2018.
