I'm Not There (2007)

Directed by Todd Haynes and co-written by Haynes and Oren Moverman, I’m Not There (2007) is a musical drama film that utilizes a nonlinear narrative, interweaving the stories of six characters who each represent a different aspect of Bob Dylan’s public persona. These personas include poet (Arthur Rimbaud), prophet (Jack Rollins/Father John), outlaw (Billy McCarty), fake (Woody Guthrie), ‘rock and roll martyr’ (Jude Quinn), and ‘star of electricity’ (Robbie Clark). According to production notes from distributor The Weinstein Company, the film presents Dylan’s life and music through these various identities, portrayed by different actors, creating a complex yet cohesive story.

Arthur Rimbaud. Interrogators questioned 19-year-old Arthur Rimbaud, who responded cryptically. Throughout the film, his enigmatic remarks touched on fatalism, the essence of poets, ‘seven simple rules for life in hiding’, and chaos.

Woody Guthrie. In 1959, an 11-year-old African American boy, going by the name Woody Guthrie, is traveling by freight train through the Midwestern United States. He carries a guitar with a case that proudly declares ‘this machine kills fascists’ and entertains fellow travelers with blues songs and lyrics about topics like trade unions. A wise African American woman suggests he sing about the current issues rather than those of the past. Unfortunately, Woody faces trouble on his journey as he is attacked by other train hoppers and nearly drowns. However, his fate takes a positive turn when a generous white couple takes him in. They recognize his incredible musical talent but Woody runs away upon discovering they have received a call from a juvenile corrections center informing them of his status as an escaped fugitive.

Jack Rollins / Father John. The film about folk musician Jack Rollins features interviews with various individuals, including fellow folk singer Alice Fabian. During the early 1960s, Jack gains recognition in the Greenwich Village folk scene for his powerful protest songs. However, after signing with Columbia Records, he abruptly shifts away from this style of music amidst the escalating Vietnam War. Jack believes that neither his music nor the genre as a whole can truly impact social or political change. Later on, at an event where he is being honored by a civil rights organization, Jack turns to alcohol in response to the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Robbie Clark. 22-year-old actor Robbie Clark stars as Jack Rollins in the critically acclaimed 1965 biographical film, Grain of Sand. While filming in Greenwich Village in January 1964, he meets and falls in love with French artist Claire, whom he soon marries. Despite the film’s success and Robbie’s rising fame, their relationship becomes strained and Claire witnesses him flirting with other women. Their disagreement over the potential for change in the world leads to a heated argument in 1968, where Robbie makes hurtful remarks about women not being able to be poets. This further damages their marriage and eventually Robbie moves out of their house. He travels to London for four months to work on a thriller and during that time has an affair with his female co-star.

Jude Quinn. Jude Quinn, a former folk singer, has caused quite a stir with his recent performance at a New England jazz and folk festival. The addition of a full band and electric guitars has outraged his fans, who accuse him of betraying the essence of folk music. On his travels to London, Jude is approached by journalist Keenan Jones, who poses the question of whether Jude has lost faith in the power of music to bring about social change. Amidst all this drama, Jude also finds himself facing physical attack from a hotel employee and reconnecting with old acquaintances such as his former lover Coco Rivington and poet Allen Ginsberg, who accuses him of ‘selling out to God’. During an interview with Keenan, it is revealed that Jude’s songs have been adopted as recruitment tools by the Black Panther Party.

Billy McCarty. According to legend, notorious outlaw Billy McCarty met his demise at the hands of Commissioner Pat Garrett. However, some claim that McCarty still resides in the remote town of Riddle, Missouri. Recently, Garrett’s proposal to raze the town for a highway has led to numerous suicides among its residents. In an act of defiance, Billy confronts Garrett about his plans. Upon recognizing Billy as the infamous Billy the Kid, Garrett has him incarcerated. Fortunately, Billy is freed by his friend Homer and takes refuge in a boxcar on a passing train where he stumbles upon Woody’s guitar. In that moment, as he rides away, he ponders on the concepts of freedom and identity.