Patti Smith: Dream of Life

Shot over eleven years, this utterly disarming documentary begins impressionistically, broadly sketching the subject’s turbulent but triumphant life in a collage of images, sounds and elusive dialogue. Soon, we realise that the standard voiceover, talking heads and linear narrative aren’t coming: this is a rockumentary closer to Jarman or Malick than Pennebaker. Dream of Life is literally that: a montage of spoken word readings, music performances, fly-on-the-wall snippets and elegiac imagery. Smith fans will be in ecstasy, but non-followers will find much to admire in the rich visual textures, gossipy snippets and unfussy guest appearances. The unconventional approach means that it can be a hit and miss affair (there are moments of self-admiring portentousness), but the hits keep coming. These include an impromptu jam with Sam Shephard, a blazing indictment of W, and an emotional duet with Philip Glass. Poet, singer, activist: you can add star of one of the most fascinating rock-docs in recent memory to that list.