Neil Young ends the SLO Film Fest on a high note

The Fremont Theatre filled to its capacity with folk rock fans and cinema lovers on the evening of Tuesday, April 29, for the closing night of the SLO Film Fest. 

The evening began with an awards ceremony honoring filmmakers recognized by both the judges and audience members throughout the festival. 

Actress and director Daryl Hannah then took to the stage, introducing her documentary film, “Coastal,” featuring her husband Neil Young.

“It’s like a bus ride with Neil,” Hannah said while introducing the film, promising to return after the screening for a Q&A with herself and Young.

The documentary, shot in black and white, follows rock legend Neil Young on his 2023 tour along the California coastline.

The film provides viewers with intimate access to the life of Young on the road. It captures everything from traffic talks and beautifully mundane conversation with his bus driver, Jerry Burden, to clips of a half-smoked joint held in place by his flip phone. 

Young is depicted as living a quiet life on tour, in stark contrast to the stereotypical image of a rock star’s life on the road. The film portrays the solitude and loneliness of a solo tour –– a goal of Hannah’s that became an influencing factor for the film’s monochrome palette. 

Although Hannah acquired a great deal of film expertise during her teen years as an actress in films like “Blade Runner” and “Kill Bill,” her introduction to the industry began in childhood. She recalls following her uncle, a cinematographer, while he worked on his own documentaries. 

“I’ve always loved movies because I had sleep problems as a kid, so I would stay up and watch the late show which used to be old movies” Hannah said. 

Now in the director’s chair herself, Hannah chose to use cinéma vérité –– a style of filmmaking that focuses on capturing the reality or truth of its subjects –– in her documentary to portray the simple moments of life on tour with Young. This may account for the authentic feel and realness the film emanates, producing a home movie quality.  

The compilation of footage shot by Hannah depicts Young drinking tea from his beloved Willie Nelson mug, often singing the words “love earth” as he travels from one city to the next. 

Neil Young may be a rockstar, but he is also a person.