Watch Bob Dylan: The Other Side of the Mirror

Bob Dylan: The Other Side of the Mirror is a fascinating documentary film that takes the viewer on a journey back in time to the year 1963, when Bob Dylan was just starting to become a household name. The film covers Dylan's performance at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, where he stunned audiences with his powerful, politically-charged lyrics, and his unconventional performing style that captivated audiences worldwide.

The film also features footage shot by legendary documentarian D. A. Pennebaker, who captures Dylan on stage, backstage, and offstage, providing an intimate glimpse into the life of one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. In addition to Dylan, the film features appearances by Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and other notable figures from the folk music scene.

The film is not a traditional documentary, as it does not follow a linear narrative or feature any interviews with Dylan or other subjects. Instead, it is a montage of footage, images, and songs that together create a rich tapestry of Dylan's experiences at Newport and beyond. The film is divided into two parts, with the first half focusing on Dylan's 1963 performance at Newport, and the second half featuring footage from his subsequent UK tours.

Some of the highlights from the Newport footage include Dylan's blistering rendition of "Maggie's Farm," which he performs with a band that includes electric guitar, drums, and bass — an unusual choice for a folk festival where most performers relied solely on acoustic instruments. The film also captures Dylan's controversial set-closing performance of "Like a Rolling Stone," which many in the audience alienated by its heavy rock and roll influence.

The second half of the film features footage from Dylan's UK tour in 1965, which was notably more hostile and chaotic than the Newport performance. A particularly unsettling sequence shows Dylan being heckled by a hostile crowd during his performance in Manchester, which culminates in Dylan confronting his critics with a memorable rendition of "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue."

Throughout the film, Dylan is a fascinating and enigmatic figure, never quite letting the audience in on his true thoughts and feelings. But through Pennebaker's lens, we get a sense of the artist's complex, ever-changing persona — from the scrappy upstart of 1963 to the enigmatic troubadour of 1965.

Joan Baez is also a captivating presence in the film, particularly during her duet with Dylan on the classic folk tune "With God on Our Side." The two artists share a palpable chemistry on stage, and the film captures the intensity of their creative partnership.

Overall, Bob Dylan: The Other Side of the Mirror is an engrossing and essential document of a pivotal moment in music history. The footage that Pennebaker captured has been immortalized in countless documentaries and retrospectives, but this film does an exceptional job of contextualizing Dylan's performances and capturing the energy and excitement of the early 1960s folk music scene. Fans of Dylan and folk music in general will find much to appreciate in this engaging and thought-provoking documentary.

Bob Dylan: The Other Side of the Mirror is a 2014 musical with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.