Folk music galore

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Written and Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen

The Coen brothers are known to have made many quirky movies with plenty of toilet humour which may satisfy the need of most movie buffs. This particular offering seem to stray from their usual fare but ended up as a dark biography of a folk singer.
It takes a certain kind of madness to be able to repeatedly withstand the frequent hard knocks of life and still hold steadfast to your belief that you may indeed change the world one day. Most would follow the path of least resistance and the path frequently travelled on, especially when you next meal is a question mark.
I suppose that is the difference between a socialist state than one that does not compensate for their jobless citizens. In a social state, the country at least takes care of their basic needs whilst the individual can dwell into non-rewarding careers like developing the arts, music and talent. In a country like us, artistes have to kowtow to capitalistic businessmen who will showcase them under their CSR or be lapdogs to conniving politicians who would promise the moon and the stars only until their own interest is fulfilled.
'Inside Llewyn Davies' is the story of a chapter in the life of a struggling folk musician who is putting the pieces of his life together after the loss of singing partner who committed suicide and the poor reception to his music. It is set in 1961 in Greenwich Village, New York.

He gets by playing sporadically at small gigs without little money to go around. He bunks in with acquaintances and friends. The sales of his only record is dismal and the small record label manager that is managing seems not interested in expanding the sales and his career.
Meanwhile, Davies' friend's wife is pregnant by him and he has to sort that out. That is when he discovered that his previous girlfriend did not terminate her pregnancy as they had planned and decided to keep his baby. Than there is a cat of a friend who is stuck with him.
He decided to take a ride to Chicago to see a record label there only to be told that he is not good. Our hero also thinks too highly of himself, refusing to be part of a trio or duo.
He also issues with his father and his sister. In summary, he is a big mess and live does not seem to change for the better. An interesting scene towards the end of the film sees an apparently young unknown Bob Dylan trying a gig at the place he sings, Gaslight Cafe.
The music is quite mesmerising and the story is pretty absorbing. 4/5.

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