It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley

It took Amy Berg ten years to gain access to the archive of Jeff Buckley (1966-1997) through his heirs. She draws heavily on the material for this documentary about the life of the man who became a musical icon in a short space of time—thanks to a heavenly voice that only grew stronger at the top of its range, one phenomenal album, Grace, and his death at the age of 30, which left the music world stunned.

Using energetic editing, the film strings together moments from his childhood to his tragic death. There is footage of a 14-year-old Buckley singing “Roxanne” by The Police, and of his performances at the New York underground café Sin-e, where he would try out his own material, as well as audio recordings of messages he left on answering machines.

These clips reveal the more personal side of Buckley, which also emerges in interviews with former band members, musician friends, his mother Mary Guibert, and his former partners Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser. Their stories make this film more than just an attempt to explain an elusive musical enigma; it becomes a tender portrait shaped by love.