PODCAST| Matt Micucci interviews David Czarnetzki and Mikhele Apitzsch, director and editor of the documentary Lady You Shot Me: Life and Death of Sam Cooke.
Director David Czarnetzki and editor Mikhele Apitzsch presented their feature documentary Lady You Shot Me: Life and Death of Sam Cooke at the 31st International Festival of Audiovisual Programmes (FIPA) in Biarritz, France. The documentary takes a look at the great soul singer/songwriter and entrepeneur Sam Cooke, who may have been, according to a conspiracy theory about his death discussed in the film, uncomfortably ahead of his time for some. Czarnetzki admits he did not know himself the extent of the influence Cooke had on soul music, but also how mysterious his death was. However, as he says in this interview, “in the end, what counts it is music … it was not so important to find out the truth.” We also talk about the challenge or re-evaluating the history of Cooke’s life and, among other things, the challenge of shooting on a tight schedule and their decision to make this film by visiting and shooting the original places that are talked about in the film and the way they are in the present day, “crossing over the history with the present time.” (He also talks about why this film cannot be screened in the United States and other places…)
Lady You Shot Me: Life and Death of Sam Cooke: This documentary tells the story of the short but equally influential life of one of the most important artists of the 1950s and 60s, Sam Cooke. It takes a particularly close look at the mysterious circumstances surrounding his violent death. Was he killed in self-defence, as officially claimed? Or was it murder, as his family, friends and conspiracy theorists believe?
For the first time in its history, the Cannes Film Festival reveals two official posters for its 78th edition, inspired by Claude Lelouch’s 1966 Palme d’Or-winning masterpiece A Man and a Woman.
Alice Rohrwacher has been appointed President of the Caméra d’or Jury at Cannes 2025. Known for her poetic and visionary cinema, Rohrwacher will award the best first feature at the festival’s closing ceremony on May 24.