Heaven Adores You: The First Few Minutes

A new documentary directed by Nickolas Rossi about late musician Elliott Smith. Through interviews with close friends and archival footage, Nickolas Rossi's film proves a heartfelt, gorgeous, meditative tribute to Smith's legacy and music.
www.afi.com/afidocs/films/heav...

[@notlisatarr]

I saw this film at a screening in Philadelphia with one of my best friends. We both stole film posters from street light poles in the city after the film. That same friend died the next year, and that poster has followed me onto every wall in every room I've moved into since. Heaven adores you both.

[@unstablerelationship]

I hate all the death... but I love your moment.....

[@ivanmont]

you may not be famous among the masses Ellliott, but you sure are big, the biggest. Heaven adores you and so we do.

[@MarcoPolo1299]

We love you Elliott "Steven" Smith. Everyone still misses you... always!

[@thebordenasylum7726]

At first I felt some type of way because the people behind this documentary had said they wanted to draw the focus away from his sadness and depression that was attached with him and his music along with the end result tragedy that bestowed Elliott. After watching this, I understand now that there wouldn't be any point to focus on that side of him. It was such a big part of Elliott Smith- the man- and the musician. This demeanor oozed out of his pours , every word he says, every note that's played. It's consumed him and there is no way to shy away from that. Instead of this being about his self destruction, it's more about the better half of him. The sadness will be there no matter what, regardless.

[@alycamus]

you know Elliott was very funny too. he would have hated to be defined by his sadness

[@TheMonolake]

Have yu listened to christian brothers ? It Rocks !!

[@user-xh4nn5fc7h]

PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!!!!! Please, please!!! Help me to see "Heaven Adores You". Can sameone have full version? Thank you all !!!!!

[@bodhimedia1]

I miss Elliott very much. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to seeing this documentary.

[@Magicpositions]

Of course heaven adores you Elliott... I hope this documentary will be out soon to buy

[@ithemeparkOFFICIAL]

Looking forward to this!

[@letsgoppl8]

I really wanna see this. I love him so much.

[@eduardomota2429]

Um dos melhores...

[@wellrose17]

I still feel like he's my little secret. I adore his music and always will. "Grrrrittt yer teeth".

[@JunkBondTrader]

one of my favourite lines. I also like, street's wet you can tell by the sound of the carrrrrrrrrrrs

[@trevordavis8210]

@@JunkBondTrader “all you ladies and you gentlemen, betweens all you’ve ever seen or been” and “they say it’s a sight that’s quite worth seeing, it’s just that everyone’s interest is stronger than mine” are some of my favorites. He was a profound lyricist and songwriter. A beacon of light in a dark space waiting to be snuffed out.

[@megs8752]

I need this movie in my life.

[@Gallamanji]

If anyone is looking for the background music that's playing here, it's Kevin Moyer - Exordium. You're welcome! :)

[@TheMonolake]

Elliot ROCKED !!!

[@GuitarHeroFreak1200]

I need to see this movie, waiting for it to be out in Australia.

[@masonmanning3955]

still waiting? cause i am and i'm super bummed!

[@GuitarHeroFreak1200]

mason manning yep... still waiting

[@leokoprowski]

Elliott was an unique artist, but a person like you and me. A Simple and true person. I hope to find a way to see this here in Brazil.

[@anna-lc9ln]

I love him

[@drago6769]

seriously make this shit available to purchase

[@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog]

Really looking forward to this production.

[@cw4686]

Cheers, Brett! Love your Friday Night on the Turntable and I am hoping that you get to catch the Phoenix screening at the end of January. I only just found out about it this morning when watching his brilliant 2MeterSessies (www.kijk.nl/veronicatv/2metersessies/videos/khvDttllqL9K/elliot-smith-2-meter-sessies). I've been so anxious for the Beautiful Noise doc to finally get released, I've had tunnel vision. I just watched the Big Star doc again the other night and I must say that I thought of Chris Bell immediately when watching this. I'm going to have to check your blog to see if you have done any Elliott Smith reviews. Perhaps you can do discography review like you did with James or the Church, if you've not already. Hope you're well and keep the vinyl spinning.

[@sidmicheals9739]

goodnight sweet prince.. goodnight, sweet prince/and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest"

[@billybilo74]

Looking forward to this being available in UK cinemas or at least available to buy. Soon, please.

[@CalletaMoth]

Pretty sure this won't air in Vermont. I can only hope someday this will be available for purchase so I (and many others who didn't have the film screen near them) can watch it. Nonetheless, thank you for making this! It's nice to see Elliott get some recognition. ☺

[@jamesheath7601]

RIP Elliott 💕

[@PogieJoe]

I want to see this film so bad.

[@StephenAndrew777]

I guess he refused to perform at the Oscars until they threatened to hire someone else to perform his song. That's pretty fucked up.

[@darcyfen]

Love

[@darcyfen]

boyfriend arranged a screening in Dallas, really excited!!!!

[@htownallday281]

Darcy Goodenough I'm driving to Dallas from Houston on the 13th for the screening. 8 hour drive round-trip to see a 2 hour movie, I'm pretty sure I wont be disappointed though. I've been waiting for a screening in Texas for sooo long. Apparently there's live music after the movie, too. So that's cool.

[@beccarastarr]

Would love to a showing in London, fingers crossed. Also, the background song playing in this is gorgeous. Where is it from?

[@78Rudys]

The cinematography at the beginning of this film is almost identical to that of Berkvens 2003 masterpiece "A Skin Too Few"

[@antimaterielrifle]

Please, what is the name of the song that starts at 01:00? Is it a song by Elliott?

[@JamesDel]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a screening in LA!! Of all places, LA!!! Or make it available to download.. please!

[@ingridnorman7919]

James Del I think it'll be out on DVD/Blueray soon...like June 17th or something

[@JamesDel]

Thank you, Ingrid! Can't believe it's only 7 months since I posted that comment! Felt like I've been waiting years :)

[@ingridnorman7919]

James Del Glad to help...even if I'm a tad late with it :P just started listning to Elliott 6 weeks ago (!) XD

[@RustinChole]

It’s not the best, most comprehensive history of what happened, especially drug wise. Love it all the same.

[@Goraal]

what is the name of the song playing in background?

[@kylabotting]

where can i watch the documentary Heaven Adores You online?

[@Trust1878]

Its on Amazon Prime if anyone is still wondering. Its great.

[@schnee319]

Another request for title/composer of trailer music? Kevin Moyer, Elliott Smith...?

[@opheliajade1986]

Yes I also would like to know what music is used here?

[@Kleasone]

Is there any unreleased song in the doc ? As they said it would be:o

[@chloenewsome5840]

you can just tell that he didnt want to be here. so sad.

[@adaswedentr]

he was murdered dude

[@Lnninpz]

Where can I watch this?

[@MrMotherfuck123]

Where can we get this Movie?

[@aldyrahman7145]

where i can buy this movie online

[@Dani92670]

The link in the description isn't working. Does anybody know how and where someone may find this?

[@davidjulesarseneau6364]

ww2.123movie.cc/movies/heaven-adores-you/

[@valeriaanahi]

I need to see this movie in spanish... where?

[@bazgotbanned]

What are the chances of this showing in any UK cinemas?

[@UrbanHeartPR]

[@gotf]

Where can I buy the full movie?

[@nickolasrossi]

***** Howdy. Actually, our Kickstarter campaign ended a few years back, so we're no longer taking donations for the film. Also, the film has currently screened a total of 4 times since it was finished, in 2 film festivals, so it's definitely not screening in select theatres.....yet. We're currently working on coming to a distribution deal that will enable us to share the film on a much wider level with many more folks. So thanks for the support! Hope you can see the film when it screens near you! xo!

[@gotf]

nickolas rossi Thanks for the heads up.

[@edroot]

Anyboday knows the song in the background?

[@schwarzblatt]

Pretty sure it's a previously unreleased Elliott Smith instrumental. No idea what the name is though.

[@cristiancorrea7289]

I need to watch this. There's no way they're going to showcase this in Chile.

[@nickolasrossi]

never say never..

[@melinahelmick1033]

nickolas rossi and in argentina?? say yes :)

[@diegodrms1]

Ya somos dos fans en Chile, de más hacemos presión :)

[@romeopalote]

somos tres

[@mariapazconcha]

romeopalote Somos cuatro. Le voy a avisar a un amigo que trabaja en el Cinearte ;)

[@bobsbigboy_]

where can i see this for free?

[@belair90210]

Amazon prime

[@bobsbigboy_]

@@belair90210 hey im not supporting a fascist piece of shit like Bezos so no thank you

[@elbowdrop3596]

Don't really like this dude's music but I'll probably watch this.

[@pepijnzuiderveld7045]

Interviewer is definitely Dutch.

[@colabtv]

I like your vid, please check out my vids and let me know what you think.

[@KoenBosman]

wow! jan douwe kroeske? awesome! more: www.veronicatv.nl/themas/2-meter-sessies/videos/khvDttllqL9K/elliot-smith-2-meter-sessies

[@copheart]

I can not stand these overwrought names like Heaven Adores You and Torment Saint (even though I think that author mistook some lyrics to come up with that title... doofus.) I know that Heaven Adores You is an unreleased song of his, but I can't help but to feel he'd be embarrassed by these corny titles. One of the worst books has the best title, "Elliott Smith And The Big Nothing." Now that's how you name something.

[@mbaligysman685]

the whole world found out who he was

[@mbaligysman685]

Mbali Gysman i wish i found out whole was then , i only started recognizing his music through movies and only after then i found out about good will hunting

[@mbaligysman685]

Mbali Gysman " ill fake it through the days with some help, of johnny walker red"

[@mbaligysman685]

Mbali Gysman i love you elliott RIP

[@dasheight]

I adore Smith. I always have - and, of course, I didn't know him - but the complaining (for lack of a better word) at the start of this documentary is quite deceptive in nature - and off-putting, as a viewer and Smith fan - and I'm hoping that it's at the start of the film in order to flesh out what was truly behind it as the film goes on. I understand the man had a sensitive nature - but if he hated being at that Oscar ceremony, then why did he agree to get paid and do it in the first place? And why did he agree to get paid and put his song(s) in "Good Will Hunting"? The man sought "fame", okay? (here, defined as being known and recognized by many; seeking and accepting a record deal to record his music - and play his songs in front of people, who would, he obviously hoped, like his music and want to come and see him, repeatedly, etc.) There's nothing wrong with that. It's not a bad thing. He was ambitious. He went on the show because he wanted to. Again - I love the man and his music - but it's important - neigh, vital, to understand that even the greatest artists are guilty of the same hypocrisies we all have in common. My point is that (and this is not having seen the film, of course, and it may get deeper into it, granted) there was obviously a big side to him that wanted all of that - as well as a side to him that pretended to not like it, as the punk behavioral aesthetic demands that you don't - and I'm saying these things because Smith deserves to be seen as having all the complications he had as a man and as an artist - and that includes the fact that he was obviously struggling at the time with the fact that his talent meant he no longer had to live in a way that may not only have inspired his songs and the characters and feelings in them - but obviously added to his image as a particular kind of songwriter - an image that his fans had grown used to. In short, yes, there may have been an issue of sensitivity to the artifice of the world he was entering at that stage - but I have no doubt that the more complicated difficulties any artist faces when reaching a certain stage of fame were also happening in his head. I'll probably get a ton of people attacking me for daring to suggest that Smith was actually capable of the same hypocrisies (and I use the word 'hypocrisies" not as a negative, but as a unifying term, as we all have them) and ambitions that all of us have - but I think it would be an insult to Smith's intelligence to present him as if he were some sort of child, lost in the great big woods of Hollywood at that point. He asked for money to have his song(s) put in the film when they asked, and he then agreed to perform at the Oscars. Agreed that there is a certain LEVEL of fame that can become daunting that he may not have been expecting - but to assume that he didn't want to be famous after seeking a record deal, playing in front of thousands of people over the years, selling his song(s) to a Gus Van Zant movie and choosing to play at the Oscars - that would be not only absurd, but revisionist myth-polishing. Smith's ambitions and keen understanding of the aesthetic and image he presented to his fans as "Elliott Smith" were just as important to understanding who he was as the sensitivity and insight and intelligence that gave his songs such a timeless and inimitable magic. All that said, many thanks to the filmmakers for doing it, as a film about him has been needed for a very long time.

[@LoHumbug]

- Elliott Smith told interviewer Matt Dormer, how the Oscars forced his hand when he said, “Yeah, right at first. I thought ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ But they said if I didn’t sing the song they’d get someone else to sing it… like Richard Marx! It was like, ‘Well, then again… I could do it!” After reluctantly going through with his decision to perform at the Oscars, Elliott would go on to relive that moment, over and over again through interviews. You're entitled to your opinion...but I have to disagree entirely. None of us knew him personally and therefore, none of us are really in any position to say what he did or didn't want. But is it so hard to believe that not everyone wants to be famous? “[The Oscars] was a dream come true. But it wasn’t my dream.” - ES.

[@Atrac89]

I don't think you understand how him being on the Oscars went down. Do a little reading before making huge walls of text like that.

[@UpTheBracket420]

shocktop You can't have a musicians music covered without their permission. He wanted to play at the oscar's- so he did

[@jasonwyman1873]

He wanted to be understood, and appreciated by as many as possible, because that's what just about everyone wants. Did he commit suicide because he was on the Oscars program, or because he was asked annoying questions? No. People sometimes, unwittingly, play a role in their own demise. That's a fair point, but what's your purpose in making it?