Scott Walker: 30 Century Man

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man is a documentary film directed by Stephen Kijak that premiered in 2006. The film is an in-depth exploration of the career and persona of Scott Walker, the enigmatic and influential musician who first rose to fame as part of The Walker Brothers in the 1960s, then later pursued a solo career marked with a distinct stylistic shift and daring experimentalism.

The film gathers an impressive assembly of well-known artists and cultural influencers moved by Walker's profound artistry. These include the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Arnie Potts, and Sara Kestelman, among others. The collection of contributors appropriately echoes Walker's expansive influence across the generations.

The documentary takes viewers on a journey through the accomplished career of Walker. His path begins in the '60s as a 'teen idol' leading The Walker Brothers. The band easily reached commercial success with their distinct blend of grand orchestration and pop sentiment. However, the film clues us into Walker's restless, divergent spirit, which is not content with appealing to the mainstream. Here marks the departure from pop and the venture into more idiosyncratic and experimental territory musically.

A significant part of the film centers on Walker's transition from mainstream success to an avant-garde auteur. The phase in which he took to producing drastically experimental music that often elicits surprise, awe, and sometimes a bit of bewilderment among critics and audiences alike. The narration includes a detailed discussion about Walker's trilogy of avant-garde albums recorded between 1984 and the mid-1990s.

In the film, viewers get a look at a rare recording session with Walker, watching someone thought of as a recluse, wrestling with the limits of his artistic expression and taking the viewer along for the ride. Kijak offers an intimate observational approach set against a visceral backdrop that reflects the often surreal nature of Walker's music.

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man also offers plenty of insights from fellow musicians who were either directly influenced by Walker or who came to appreciate his artistry from afar. Key figures from the music genres of rock, pop, punk, and more pay tribute to his enduring influence. This includes icons like David Bowie (serving as both an interviewee and executive producer of the film), Radiohead, Brian Eno, Damon Albarn, Sting, and others. Notably, each contributor's personal account gives viewers a sense of Walker's wide-reaching impact, as well as his unwillingness to conform to industry norms or expectations.

Walker’s eccentricity, self-imposed exile, and unique musical journey is approached in the film with both intrigue and balanced analysis, achieved without intruding on the musician’s famously elusive privacy. Each move throughout his career is examined with expert insight, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, offering a profound look into the mind of a one-of-a-kind artist and musical philosopher.

One engaging aspect of the film is its balance between biography, music history, and an attempt to dissect and inhabit Walker's unique artistic mind. It delves into Walker's uncompromising spirit, recounting anecdotal data about his decisions that often appeared risky or unorthodox, always driven by a deep-seated need for authenticity over commercial viability. There are accounts of moments that kept critics and audiences guessing while revealing a man whose commitment to his craft and vision remains undeterred.

Not just about the man and the music, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man is also a film about art and its creation - tackling questions about the nature of creativity, the struggle to maintain artistic integrity within the music industry, and the realities of living life as a musician faced with the constant collision of commerce, fame, and personal ideals.

Indeed, this documentary is a must-see for fans of Walker's work and those interested in the backstage of the music industry. Scott Walker: 30 Century Man successfully examines an elusive figure revered as a musician's musician and yet remains a mystery to most. Through it all, the film champions the perhaps radical but inspiring belief that commercial success can and should play second fiddle to creative integrity.