Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love - A Documentary Exploration of a Profound Connection
A rich tapestry woven from words and archival footage, Nick Broomfield’s “Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love” delves into the enduring and complex relationship between the legendary Leonard Cohen and his muse, Marianne Ihlen.
The Genesis of a Love Affair on Hydra
In 1960, a young, aspiring Canadian writer named Leonard Cohen encountered Marianne Ihlen, a Norwegian divorcée, on the idyllic Greek island of Hydra. Marianne, a blonde beauty raising her son Axel, became a pillar of support for Cohen as he pursued his literary ambitions. Later, as Cohen transitioned from writer to singer-songwriter, Marianne became the inspiration for at least five of his iconic songs, including “So Long, Marianne,” “Bird on a Wire,” and “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye.”
However, Marianne struggled to adapt to Cohen’s nomadic lifestyle as his career soared. Years later, Cohen married artist Suzanne Elrod, with whom he had two children. Marianne eventually returned to Oslo and remarried. She passed away from leukemia at the age of 81 in 2016. Cohen, then 82 and nearing his own end, sent her a heartfelt email shortly before her death, a testament to their enduring bond.
An Exploration of Love and Inspiration
Broomfield’s documentary is not merely a biographical account of a famous artist and his muse; it’s a poignant exploration of the mindset of a person in love – a cinematic counterpart to Roland Barthes’ “A Lover’s Discourse.” The film features a series of interviews with individuals who knew Cohen and Ihlen, offering their recollections of a bygone era and the remarkable lives of these two individuals.
Broomfield’s Personal Connection
Adding another layer to the narrative, director Nick Broomfield inserts himself into the story, revealing that he, too, had a romantic relationship with Marianne Ihlen in his twenties. This personal connection transforms the film into a complex triangle, highlighting Marianne’s unique ability to inspire men and unlock their hidden potential. However, this focus on the men in her life sometimes overshadows Marianne herself, leaving her image as a muse somewhat buried beneath a wealth of memories and anecdotes.
Cohen’s Charisma and the Power of Words
Leonard Cohen’s charismatic presence inevitably dominates the documentary, casting a long shadow over the other characters. Fans of his work will be delighted by the stories of his drug-fueled days in 1960s Greece, his attempts at self-taught hypnosis, and the chaotic scene at the Isle of Wight Festival where a fire broke out before his performance. The film also includes candid footage of a woman’s bold advances towards Cohen in the 60s, the story behind his iconic “Hallelujah,” his five-year retreat to a monastery to combat depression, and his return to the stage, performing for an aging Marianne in London. The film culminates in incredibly sentimental yet essential scenes of Marianne on her deathbed.
The film’s title, “Words of Love,” is apt, as the documentary is filled with a torrent of words, forming a cohesive narrative about love, loss, and inspiration.
The Enduring Power of Love and the Muse
As we know, love is a subject that has been written about extensively, yet Cohen was one of the few poets who could find fresh and original ways to describe this complex emotion. He articulates this in the film, stating that in a perfectly balanced relationship, a man becomes content for a woman, and she, in turn, becomes content for him, provided that the content is distributed equally.
Cohen and Ihlen’s relationship was unique, and Cohen reveals that he wrote the first song about her when they started seeing each other less frequently, but before they completely drifted apart. While it might be easy to accuse Cohen (and Broomfield) of rock-star egoism, it’s important to consider the film’s exploration of the evolving concept of the “muse” in the 21st century. Ultimately, “Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love” is a moving and insightful account of a love that transcended death, a story that deserves to be heard and respected.