I was privileged to be among a full house audience of Joan Baez fans at the classic Castro Theater for the San Francisco Premiere of the new documentary movie on her life “I am Noise.” A question and answer period followed the movie which is when I made these photographs.

The movie was very well crafted, containing many personal stories, artwork, and explored some very difficult issues.

2023 SFFILM FESTIVAL

JOAN BAEZ I AM NOISE

Directed by Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle, Karen O’Connor (USA, France, Ireland, UK, Turkey 2023, 109 min)

In her 20s, Joan Baez was the undisputed queen of folk music, one of the first people to recognize Bob Dylan’s talent and record his songs (the two would also make another kind of music together for a while), and someone who used her rising celebrity to fight for civil rights and justice and against the war in Vietnam. This entrancing documentary takes a long look back at Baez’s wild ride while following the longtime San Mateo County resident on her 2018/2019 Fare Thee Well Tour. The final Baez standing after the deaths of her two sisters and her parents, Baez gives an account not just of her singular life of art and activism but also spins a complicated family story. Music, archival material, and oral history combine for a stunning glimpse into the voice of a generation. Expected guests: Joan Baez, director Miri Navasky, director Karen O’Connor.