A Well Spent Life

 

 

I watched "A Well Spent Life" yet again last night. This is Les Blank's beautiful and brilliant documentary on Texas bluesman Mance Lipscomb.  This, like every last one of Les Blank's films, is something to behold. I wrote about Les Blank and the must have Criterion Blu Ray boxed set that has all of his films back in February of 2020. I said this:

 

"This insanely good Criterion box is everything and more, all of Blank's films, with new transfers and remastered audio and a ton of extras.  I’ve seen about half of the films at least once. A few, like the Hopkins and the Mance Lipscomb short "A Well Spent Life" and the title film, "Always For Pleasure," I watch over and over. Every film is unique. The images and sounds are nothing short of miraculous and I find it hard to take my eyes off the screen. You will go nuts in the best possible way watching “Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers.” Trust me. If you love food, music and culture, there are no better films than those included in "Les Blank: Always For Pleasure."  

The clip above is mesmerizing. It's not from the film, but I was reminded again watching the film of Lipscomb's effortless picking, something that is both taken for granted and underappreciated by those with no particular feeling for the blues. I can't stress enough just how important all of Blank's documentaries are. I don't believe you need to have an investment in any of his subjects--Lightning Hopkins, Mardi Gras, Garlic, Cajuns or Mance Lipscomb--to appreciate what he has captured. If you don't want to shell out the bucks for the box, track down one film at a time. Start with "A Well Spent Life." It's only 45 minutes long, but it conveys a lifetime.