By Nora Schindler

The Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown released in theaters late last year and is bringing that folk-rock scene back to younger audiences everywhere. It’s not just the face that’s pulling people towards the film, although it doesn’t hurt to have Timothee Chalamet at the height of his career as that face. It’s all about the music. The film is heavily focused on the songs more than anything else.

The film starts in 1961 when a nineteen-year old Dylan arrives in New York with nothing but a guitar. As we now know, he became one of the most influential musicians of all time. But where the movie starts he’s just a kid from Minnesota with talent the world has no idea exists. The movie covers a span of the years during his rise to fame, and ends right as he genre shifts.

Based loosely on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald, the movie is indeed a work of fiction but is rooted in fact. Chalamet went through extensive research for many years prior to portraying Dylan. His portrayal comes off as a brooding moody 20-something with so many opinions and feelings he doesn’t know how to express without music. 

In the film, Dylan first meets Elle Fanning’s character, a young activist named Sylvie Russo—the start of a  tumultuous relationship. Fanning’s character is based on Suze Rottolo, Dylan’s real life past partner who can be seen on the cover of his album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Her name was changed in the film due to direct orders from Dylan himself. 

No, it was not a perfect healthy relationship and the struggles are introduced along with almost what seems like a threat to their relationship. That threat? Joan Baez, played by the incredible Monica Barbaro. Audiences are introduced to the inner workings of Dylan and Baez and their on and off, difficult, relationship/affair. The two created some amazing music in real life—and were at each other’s throats. Both factors are shown in the film. 

Throughout the film Dylan can be seen interacting with many famous stars like Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash, and Woody Guthrie. The audience gets a sense for his inspiration and then watches his shift to rock. The pivotal scene is at the Newport Folk Festival, described as the “very night he goes electric.” In the film Seeger urges Dylan to stick to the acoustic folk, but Dylan does as Dylan pleases and takes the stage with a full band to play “Like a Rolling Stone” and others. After being booed he returns to the stage to play an acoustic encore against his better judgement.

The film took occasional liberties throughout, including some animosity from Seeger during Dylan’s electric performance that may not have actually occurred.  The movie paints a picture of the music scene in the early 1960s that undoubtedly shaped our music industry today.

At the very beginning of the movie, Dylan arrives in New York and stops to visit a dying Woody Guthrie. The movie comes full circle as after the folk festival, Dylan rides off on his motorcycle with his signature sunglasses all the way back to that same hospital. In this act, Dylan conveys his respect for the folk genre while recognizing his need to grow beyond it. 

Dylan will not be a copy of anyone else, and he’s proven over and over he’s just fine making whatever he wants to make.