Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (HBO)

About Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (HBO)

"Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck" is an intimate and visceral journey through Kurt Cobain's life and his battle with addiction, fame, and depression, as seen through his own unique and strikingly personal lens. This HBO documentary uses Kurt Cobain's personal drawings, handwritten lyrics, home movies, recordings, photos, and journals to paint a detailed and vivid image of his life.

Making / Production

Dedicated director Brett Morgen spent eight years painstakingly creating this powerful documentary. With exclusive access to Kurt Cobain's personal and family archives, Morgen was able to bring to life the late musician's experiences in a way that none have before.

Actors

• Kurt Cobain (Himself): Unraveling his life from his own perspective, Cobain takes the lead role in this documentary through the raw material he left behind.
• Tracey Marander (Herself): As Cobain's first serious girlfriend, Marander gives an in-depth look into their relationship and his early years as an artist.
• Krist Novoselic (Himself): As a member of Nirvana, Novoselic shares his views on Cobain’s life and their time as bandmates.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title "Montage of Heck" comes from a musical collage created by Cobain with a 4-track cassette recorder around 1988, which was also called 'Montage of Heck'.
• This was the first documentary about Kurt Cobain made with the cooperation of his family.

Awards

"Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck" was highly praised, winning the Best Documentary Feature at the IDA Documentary Awards and being nominated for numerous others, including the Grammy Awards for Best Music Film, the MTV Movie Awards for Best Documentary, and the Emmy Awards for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.

Quotes

• "I had a really good childhood, up until I was nine, then a classic case of divorce really affected me." - Kurt Cobain
• "The worst crime is faking it." - Kurt Cobain

Music/Soundtrack

• Brett Morgen and Jeff Danna created the hauntingly beautiful score for the film.
• Unreleased acoustic tunes by Kurt Cobain, such as the Beatles cover “And I Love Her” and "Montage of Heck", are featured in the film.