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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom

Bob Dylan, photographed by Jerry Schatzberg in the 1960s.

Bob Dylan is back on all platforms—and I don’t just mean the music ones. You can go hear and watch his newest album, Shadow Kingdom, performed live for the new Apple TV concert film Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom. Directed by Alma Har’el, the concert takes place in an intimate, old-timey saloon filled with characters who look like they’ve been taken directly out of a classic western film, and the entire set is captured in black and white. The crowd smokes, drinks, and nods along with Dylan as he sings, yet demonstrates almost no emotion when in the camera’s view. In contrast with the audience, the members of Dylan’s backing band are all wearing masks. Dylan, of course, is maskless, and we are graced with some uninterrupted, close-up shots of his face, a rarity and highlight of the movie as the elusive artist has always maintained a distaste for cameras. He plays the album start to finish live for us, with the final song “Sierra’s Theme” playing over the credits. The film certainly does not disappoint, particularly if you’re someone who has never had the chance to see Dylan live. You come away feeling you’ve witnessed something special. —Henry McGrath

Photo: © Jerry Schatzberg/Trunk Archive