This film is a documentary about the life and art of Claus Nomi, a New Wave countertenor/performance artist from Germany. It's a well-done documentary about a musician who had a mind-blowing concept.
The problem is, I hate movies about musicians. If I wanted to watch yet another musician ruin his life I'd read my journals, email my all my music buddies from college, and hang out in local clubs more often. There's a strong case for the theory of zero-sum personalities. There's only so much ability in a person's soul. Those who spend most of that ability on being ridiculously talented, often seem to be short in those basic skills that make life livable (or at least normal.) Mozart could write music but he couldn't hold down a job, pay his bills, or maintain an adult relationship. Neither could Beethoven or Elvis or Michael Jackson. All the recent musician movies (RAY, WALK THE LINE) are about this tremendous dichotomy of ability in two recent superstar musicians. I'm certain they're well-made movies, too, but it always hits a little too close to home for me.
Anyway, NOMI SONG is about a man who finally becomes notorious for his excellent use of the countertenor voice. He developed this very alien/androgynous look and sound and combining that with the times meant he was famous in his East Villiage way. Eventually, after abandoning everyone he ever worked with, he became famous in Europe. Then he died of AIDS in the early 80's, completely alone.
So, it's sad. And his friends are sad that they didn't go see him when he was dying, sad that they were so afraid of the unknown disease called "Gay Cancer" that they couldn't support a friend who had abandoned them and treated them badly. Which means, Claus Nomi had good friends and shut them out to become famous. A sad end to an interesting talented glorious sad life.
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