Taking Woodstock

Taking Woodstock

28 October, 2009
by: Lowri

Ang Lee’s latest film is an innocent little tale about a young guy who inadvertently brings the Woodstock festival to his one-horse town of Catskills.

His Russian Jewish penny-pinching parents run a dilapidated motel El Monico. Close to bankruptcy, their overworked son shows the Woodstock organisers round the local grounds. The village doesn’t know what’s hit it.

It’s a sweet comedy portrayal of the era, full of pleasingly stereotypical hippies, nudity and colourful acid trips. The only gripe I have is that the narrative remains very much removed from the action of Woodstock.

There are some amazing festival scenes – some of them re-enactments of genuine footage – but you don’t get to hear any of the music which made the event so monumental. The main character Elliot doesn’t even make it to the main stage – but gets waylaid by a pair of comedy trippers who spend the night inside their van rather than getting involved where the action is.

That said, the comedy interactions between the straight-laced village folk and the flower power hippie kids is funny. It warms the cockles with its portrayal of the amazing power of a collective effort – and of the human desire to have a good time. The ‘three days of peace and music’ also involved weeks – months – of chaos for this little village.

Overall, it’s a sweet if somewhat lightweight portrayal of the events - which humanizes the massive operation that was the iconic Woodstock festival.

Taking Woodstock will be in cinemas November 13th. Find out more at www.takingwoodstockthemovie.co.uk

Click here for loads more exciting things to do in London.

Lowri