Film Overview

Release Date: September 11, 2006 (Toronto International Film Festival)
Wide Release: October 3, 2007
Director: AJ Schnack
Runtime: 96 minutes
Studio: Sidetrack Films
Distributor: Balcony Releasing
Rating: Not Rated
Format: DVD, Digital

Synopsis

“Kurt Cobain: About A Son” is an intimate and moving portrait of the Nirvana frontman told entirely through Cobain’s own voice. The documentary is built around more than 25 hours of previously unheard audio interviews conducted by music journalist Michael Azerrad for his book “Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana.”

Rather than relying on concert footage or photos of Kurt, director AJ Schnack takes a more experimental approach. The film presents contemporary imagery of the three Washington State cities where Cobain lived (Aberdeen, Olympia, and Seattle), set against Cobain’s narration and a soundtrack of music that influenced him—notably excluding Nirvana’s own recordings until the final credits.

Through this unique presentation, viewers experience Kurt’s journey in his own words—from troubled childhood to reluctant superstardom and his struggles with addiction, fame, and identity.

Background & Production

The interviews used in the film were recorded between December 1992 and March 1993, just a year before Cobain’s suicide in April 1994. Michael Azerrad conducted these late-night phone conversations for his authorized biography of Nirvana.

For years, these tapes remained private until Azerrad approached documentary filmmaker AJ Schnack with the idea of building a film around Cobain’s voice. The result is a documentary that avoids the typical format of talking heads and archival footage, instead creating a more atmospheric and personal experience.

Cinematographer Wyatt Troll captured beautiful footage of the Pacific Northwest locations where Cobain lived, while Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard composed the original score that complements the artists who influenced Cobain.

Unique Approach

What sets “About A Son” apart from other Cobain documentaries is its deliberate stylistic choices:

• No Nirvana music throughout the film (only in the end credits)
• No archival footage of Kurt performing
• No interviews with friends, family, or bandmates
• No photographs of Kurt until the closing moments

Instead, the film creates an immersive experience where viewers hear Kurt’s thoughts on his childhood, musical development, rise to fame, relationship with Courtney Love, fatherhood, drug addiction, and his complicated feelings about success.

Chapter Breakdown

The film is structured around three distinct chapters based on the cities where Cobain lived:

1. Aberdeen (1965-1987)

Kurt discusses his childhood in the logging town, his parents’ divorce, feeling like an outsider, discovering punk rock, and his early musical experiments.

2. Olympia (1987-1991)

Cobain’s time in the artistic college town where he developed as a musician, formed Nirvana, and began to find his voice both artistically and politically.

3. Seattle (1991-1994)

The period of Nirvana’s breakthrough success, Kurt’s relationship with Courtney Love, his struggles with fame, heroin addiction, and becoming a father.

Musical Influences Featured

The film’s soundtrack features artists who influenced Cobain, including:

• The Melvins
• Mudhoney
• Scratch Acid
• Bad Brains
• Iggy Pop
• The Vaselines
• Leadbelly
• Queen
• David Bowie
• Cheap Trick
• R.E.M.

Critical Reception

“Kurt Cobain: About A Son” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006 and received generally positive reviews from critics. It currently holds an 88% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Critics praised the film’s unconventional approach and intimate portrayal of Cobain:

“A profound, almost spiritual, portrait of an artist’s life.” – The New York Times

“An impressionistic and meditative portrait that works better as an experimental art piece than a traditional documentary.” – Variety

“The absence of Cobain’s image until the end creates a haunting experience of getting to know someone intimately through voice alone.” – Rolling Stone

Some viewers and critics found the experimental style alienating, preferring a more traditional documentary approach with more concrete biographical information.

DVD Special Features

The DVD release includes several special features:

• Audio commentary with director AJ Schnack, producer/editor Michael Azerrad, and producer Shirley Moyers
• “Meditation on Kurt” featurette with filmmaker Michael Gondry
• “On Location” featurette exploring the film’s visual approach
• Charles Peterson photo gallery with commentary
• Full conversations from selected audio interviews
• Theatrical trailer

Impact and Legacy

While less widely known than Brett Morgen’s “Montage of Heck” or Nick Broomfield’s “Kurt & Courtney,” “About A Son” is often considered by critics and serious Nirvana fans to be one of the most authentic and personal portrayals of Kurt Cobain.

The film provides unique insights into Cobain’s thoughts and feelings that aren’t found in other documentaries, particularly his reflections on childhood, his evolving musical taste, and his complex feelings about fame and success.

Notable Quotes from Kurt in the Film

On his childhood:

“I was so withdrawn by the time I was fourteen. I hated everyone, for they had so much contempt for my character.”

On discovering punk rock:

“I was looking for something a lot heavier, yet melodic at the same time. Something different from heavy metal, a different attitude.”

On songwriting:

“I’ve never considered myself a songwriter. I don’t know what it means to be a real songwriter. I just write songs in 25 minutes.”

On fame:

“I’m a much happier person when I’m not famous. I was just so overwhelmed by the whole thing. I didn’t know how to deal with it.”

On fatherhood:

“Having a child has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my life, especially after all the shit I’ve had to go through.”

Where to Watch

• DVD (special edition available)
• Digital rental/purchase available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play
• Periodically available on streaming services (check current availability)

Related Films and Books

If you enjoyed “Kurt Cobain: About A Son,” you might also be interested in:

• Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015) – Brett Morgen’s comprehensive documentary with family cooperation
• Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana – Michael Azerrad’s book from which the interview audio was sourced
• Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain – Danny Goldberg’s memoir of managing Nirvana
• Heavier Than Heaven – Charles R. Cross’s definitive Cobain biography
• Journals – Collection of Kurt Cobain’s personal writings and drawings

Community Discussion

Have you seen “Kurt Cobain: About A Son”? What did you think about the experimental approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below.