The documentary PATTI SMITH begins with a full fledged account of the rock singer’s life till the present.  Using old film and video footage, director/writer Steven Sebring summarizes Smith’s life from her birth, youth to her marriage, her family’s, the formation of her band, a brief account of the band members before settling to images of Patti Smith in person.

Smith is shown, with her long hair and pants, an image that is remembered most throughout the film.  Sebring shows his subject not only as a singer, poet, activist and performer but as a mother and human being.  What really comes across as Sebring’s hidden agenda is his portrayal of Smith as a highly intelligent and individual person.

For those unfamiliar with Smith or her music, Sebring’s documentary will be difficult to take.  One has to share the director’s closeness to her work or his fascination with her persona.  Though the doc looks really good on the big screen – Sebring’s film did win the Sundance Documentary Cinematography Award – Sebring makes no attempt to interest those unfamiliar with Patti Smith.

As such audiences will be divided as to whether they will like this rather biased account of Patti Smith and her life.  My film rating shows where I stand.