Elliott Smith has been one of my all time favourite artists and songwriters, yet I somehow never got around to watching 'Heaven Adores You' in the decade that it has been out, until it finally became yesterday's late night watch. Overall it's a beautiful, if unavoidably heartbreaking viewing. I'd honestly call it more of a sincere tribute rather than a documentary, as its primary focus was to showcase his music and give a few snippets of Elliott Smith's life, as described by several of his friends and family members.
I actually liked that the documentary heavily leaned on showing his work as an artist, his creative process, and his inspirations and influences, without putting too much focus on the more tragic aspects of his life and his untimely death. And even when it does speak about his passing, it doesn't sensationalise it or try to exploit it in the slightest. His story is told through the lens of the people who knew and cared about him, and their grief, sadness, and even regret, are apparent as they discuss his inner demons, the darker angles of his psyche, and his struggles with fame and with the labels that were put on him by the critics and the press, that never really resonated with him and his love for creating music.
For the most part, though, 'Heaven Adores You' focuses on celebrating Elliott Smith's life, with a genuine and personal approach. It doesn't go into too much depth or offer many answers, and I wish there was more actual footage of Smith himself showing his own perspective on things, but it still does a great job at showcasing his talent, his fragility and kindness, his sense of humour, the reasons he was so loved, and the vulnerability that he poured into his work and which made his music so timeless and influential. The soundtrack is unsurprisingly brilliant, the cinematography is beautiful, featuring some lovely shots of Portland and Los Angeles, and it's overall both an interesting watch for fans and a great intro for someone interested in discovering Elliott Smith as an artist.
