Rated: MA15+
Directed by: Richard Lowenstein
Written by: Richard Lowenstein
Produced by: Maya Gnyp, John Battsek, Sue Murray, Mark Fennessy, Richard Lowenstein, Lynn-Maree Milburn, Andrew De Groot
Executive Producer: Maiken Baird
Music by: INXS, Michael Hutchence, Ollie Olsen, Max Q, Kylie Minogue & Nick Cave, Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm.
With a noted very special thank you to: Tiger Hutchence – Geldof.
Michael Hutchence: ‘The trouble is hanging on to a fixed point long enough to understand it.’
I grew up with INXS, clearly remembering watching Michael Hutchence on TV performing on stage at Wembley Stadium (leading to their album, Live Baby Live) and feeling something stir.
Like the rest of the world, I saw that Michael had that something.
What this documentary shows is that Michael wanted to be more than a pop star. He wanted fame. And he wanted to be an artist.
Usually I’m scribbling notes and at times drifting during a screening, thinking of a phrase to write. But I was absorbed into this documentary because there was so much footage of Michael. Those eyes. That heart.
Director and writer, Richard Lowenstein knew INXS and Michael personally, directing most of their music videos and the film, Dogs in Space (1986) with Michael starring as the lead (and part of my, If you Haven’t Watched You’re in for a Treat, List).
Lowenstein notes, ‘There finally came a time when I felt that the hype had calmed down and enough time had passed for someone who had known him well and respected that relationship, to physically and emotionally tell a genuine and respectful chronicle of his life.
That’s when the interviews began.’
The documentary is made up of footage of Michael taken by family and friends and himself with voice-overs from those who were close to him – Kylie Minogue tries to explain their intimate relationship admitting it was exactly what it seemed, the dark and worldly Michael introducing Kylie to the sensory delights.
And we witness his relationship with super model Helena Christensen, as they gallivanted around the South of France, living the dream.
Early girlfriend and long-time close friend, Michele Bennett and Helena had never spoken publicly about Michael, until being interviewed for this film.
Michele Bennett, Kylie Minogue, Susie and Kell Hutchence (Michael’s parents), Tina Hutchence, Rhett Hutchence (sister and brother) and ‘Ghost Pictures have opened up their extensive archive of never-before-seen personal 35mm, 16mm and home video for this film. Many other informants and sources have supplied photographs, sound recordings and rare documents seen for first time.’
It was so easy to think Michael was just this superficial, sexy guy. But the story of his life, in this documentary at least, depicts a sensitive dreamer who worked hard. Who made the band INXS his family.
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him alive and well in those early days, only to get my heart broken again by his ultimate suicide. Yet, there’s answers here, which I appreciate as a fan.
Whether the film gives us insight into all that happened during Michael’s heady days, I’m not sure. The band members weren’t given much of a voice but were shown alongside Michael, on stage, backstage.
What struck me was the revelation of the attack that occurred in 1992 in Copenhagen, when he was outside a pizza shop with Helena. The traumatic brain injury (TBI) he suffered lead to a complete loss of his sense of smell and 90% of his sense of taste. And he kept the injury a secret.
The later years of his life were buried in controversy after his relationship with Paula Yates became the London presses favourite topic.
All I remember from the time is the much-publicised divorce and custody battle Paula fought against Sir Bob Geldof, and the drug abuse of Paula and Michael.
Here, we’re shown the effect the controversy had on Michael while his condition took it’s toll, the symptoms from his TBI looking like the effects of drugs.
Michael says of life, ‘Sometimes it clicks and sometimes you’re fighting against nature.’
It was a pleasure to see, once again, the performance of Michael on stage and to see behind the scenes of this surprisingly shy man.
It’s a haunting documentary that satisfies the curiosity while breaking the heart.
Michael Hutchence: 1960 – 1997.