Difranco;Ani Render: Ani Difranco: Amazon.ca: Video

Product Description

From Amazon.com

Render isn't a documentary or concert video, but a combination of the two--bathed in the casual intimacy of a home movie. In the 2002 film (directed by Hilary Goldberg and DiFranco), the folksinger is shown backstage with her band, in rehearsal, in concert, in the studio, etc. The highlights are the vibrant live performances from Austin, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; and New Haven, Connecticut. DiFranco comes in to her own on stage--singing, chatting, relating--she has the charisma of Janis Joplin and the political savvy of Joan Baez, along with the punk rock spunk of Chrissie Hynde (her "Bad Boys Get Spanked" T-shirt testifies to that). Over 20 songs are featured, including such favorites as "The Slant" (from her 1989 debut) and "Cradle and All." Guest performers include Sekou Sundiata and Bitch & Animal, a duo on her Righteous Babe label. Render is the ideal accompaniment to DiFranco's live CD, Living in Clip. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Video Details

Join Ani DiFranco, her band, and members of the extended Righteous Babe family as they crisscross the country in this long-awaited, one-of-a-kind portrait of the Li'l Folksinger at work. Videographers spent years on Ani's trail, capturing her onstage, in the studio, and on the tour bus--footage which Ani herself shaped into a very personal self-portrait. The resulting movie, which draws on material from as far back as 1997, focuses on her 2000 and 2001 tours. This impressionistic collage takes you way behind the scenes; you'll watch a new song take shape and learn the stories behind some favorite older ones. Over two dozen songs are featured, including two brand new Ani songs and previously unreleased live versions of many of her classics. As dynamic, thought-provoking, and fun as one of her concerts, Render gives you a sneak peek into Ani's life and music in her own words, on her own terms. It's a visual live album, it's a road film, it's an art flick, it's a document of a movement in time.

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

3.6 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Thoughtful, and Personal, Feb 29 2004

By

Krucialkeys501 "krucialkeys501" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Render - Spanning Time with Ani DiFranco (DVD)

People often chasitze Ani Difranco for being too preachy of an aritst. I find that funny when the majority of songs that she creates are the reason that we all are fans of her. These songs have the same message she mostly talks about in Render, so I assume it's that most of Ani's fans only like to hear her opinions when there is a guitar playing along. I don't think that's fair.

With Render, Ani Difranco takes you into what she experiences by touring with her band. You see her extended family, and you see her diligent work ethic and devotion to her craft. It's a film showcasing her and her beliefs, so if people cannot accept that, then they shouldn't have bought the DVD in the first place. After all, the DVD says directly Spanning Time with Ani Difranco, not Ani Difranco live in Concert (although I would be excited if she ever decided to release a DVD of that stature).

Also, I personally like most of the songs on the DVD, to the person that called them B-Sides. In fact, My IQ is one of my favorite poems by her, and Overlap is one of my favorite songs. Besides, the most important thing about this DVD is the overall impression, which I think is shown very well. Regardless of wehether or not you agree with her politics, this DVD shows them well researched and in a manner that is obviously just her voicing her opinion based on the things she's learned. To the person who said "why does she say don't judge people for their worst moment in their lives." I didn't see you complaining about the song "Fuel" on Little Plastic Castle, so I don't know why you're suprised she's against capital punishment. You get to get inside the mind of Ani Difranco, a compelling mind at that.

And while I don't agree with her not liking people to sing along at her shows, if you've been to her shows the people sometimes get out of hand and distracting. She's not a popstar, she's a folk singer so we don't want to see her dance and put on a circus like extravaganza. We want to hear her play, therefore Ani is valid for not wanting distractions so that she can do her best job live. I've seen her twice; she doesn't disappoint!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Everyday silence meets Ani DVD soundtrack...antics ensue.., Feb 13 2004

By

Z. Hyde "danger! high voltage!" (MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Render - Spanning Time with Ani DiFranco (DVD)

I bought this dvd not knowing what to expect, really. I didn't know if it would be a structured sort of step-by-step dvd of her concert with little background video, or a documentary of pre-show preperations with very little music. Happily, it was a mixture of both, showing clips of Ani playing on stage and her doing her every things, like painting her nails and mixing her own music at Righteous Babe Records. If you're not a huge Ani fan then sitting and watching the dvd will probably grow boring quickly, but its nice to have in the background while surfing the web or some other attention-commanding activity.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Hard Won Beauty and Grace, May 4 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Render - Spanning Time with Ani DiFranco (DVD)

I strongly disagree with the reviewer from Aberdeen, WA. I have watched this DVD twice and found it to convey Ani's illuminating spirit, raw power, and unorthadox grace. We all have to pick our battles and use our assigned gifts to enable a sense of change in our private and public lives. I found Ani's commentary on her hometown, the legal system, and even the relationship she has to her music all aspects of her deep-rooted sense of social responsibility. At no point did she yell or be disrespectful to her audience, coworkers, or interviewers. I am slightly irritated that so many seem to confuse Ani's communication of self-resolve with adolescent rebellion. One of my favorite aspects of Render, is when it dips into the more tedious, unglamourous moments of creating music (on stage and in the studio) and being able to witness Ani's professionalism and self-discipline when few others are around.
I highly recommend this DVD to those who appreciate Ani as a self-made woman (not deity) who venerates life and the ability to affect positive change.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
I thought this would be more of a music and concert DVD. Instead It was a diatribe on Annie's radical left wing politics. Read more

Published on April 8 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars I love you Ani....
I bought this because i am a huge fan of her music, the DVD is something I can watch over and over agian.

Published on Mar 9 2003