Janis Joplin's first notable appearance as a vocalist occurred at the Monterey Festival in June 1967. By early October 1970 she was dead. Known for her 'gutsy' style, Joplin's downward spiral had commenced long before she become known as the first lady of electronic Rock 'n Roll. The film, which almost always shows Janis with a wide smile on her face also tells us that she was eccentric from the beginning, both in the friends she chose and the clothing she wore. While attending school she was voted "Ugliest Man on Campus", an esteem shattering label if there ever was one.
Janis had a close relationship with her family, a relationship without which this film could not be made. A great deal of the film's material was taken from Janis' letters to them. The letters were honest, intimate and revealing, and were read as a supplement to many of the on-screen visuals in a warm, compassionate voice.
The letters give us a view of Joplin's inner thoughts, but the external Janis was revealed by interviews with both her family and former bandmates. Their comments at different times indicated awe, respect, envy and love.
Although the film was informative through Janis' letters, it was not as emotionally involving as other recent documentaries. This is truly unfortunate because Janis Joplin had been a true pioneer in the creation of a new form of music.
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