Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love

Based on archival materials and set in the idyllic landscapes of the Greek island of Hydra, this documentary melodrama shows one of the most famous pop culture love stories, i.e. the relationship of Marianne Ihlen and Leonard Cohen. In his story about the muse and artist, Broomfield tries to take on the perspective of the former, a woman he knew and with whom he was close (the director is actually a supporting figure here). This is not an easy task, especially since the archives guard the greatness of the singer and his legend (Cohen's career is perfectly documented, the fate of Ihlen is not). That is why Broomfield also reaches for the memories of her friends and audio recordings in which Ihlen shares her version of stories immortalized in wonderful songs such as So Long, Marianne or Bird On The Wire. They met in the '60s in a shop on the island - her husband had just abandoned her, she was alone with her son while Cohen was a budding writer. They became part of the international bohemia, but Hydra's party and drug-infused atmosphere worked mainly in his favor. Alongside Marianne, who fed him and ran their modest home, he created songs that catapulted him into New York's artistic salons. She left the island a few years later with a broken heart.