Harry Chapin was one of the most loved and respected musicians of the 1970s. His name was listed on par with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Cat Stevens when talking about the best songwriters of his day. But for reasons unknown, Chapin’s name has faded from popular memory; most Camosun students today probably don’t even know who he is.
Director Rick Korn sets out to correct this with the biopic Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something.
Today, Chapin is largely remembered for his biggest hit, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” but Korn focuses just as much on Chapin’s activism and philanthropic work as he does on the music. And rightly so. Chapin posthumously received what is considered one of America’s two highest civilian honours, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his efforts to combat hunger in the United States and abroad, and his work has continued to this day.
The musical side of the story is well told through performance clips, interviews, and archival footage that features family members, bandmates, and fellow performers (such as Billy Joel, Pat Benatar, and Bruce Springsteen), while the political ripples he caused are described by Bob Geldof and Michael Moore, among others who continued to build off of the platforms Chapin created.
Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something is a very well-made documentary, but not without flaws. The film combines great footage, great music, and great stories told by well-chosen contemporaries and family members. It’s well edited and told in an engaging way, but somehow it feels at times almost like a promotional film for a larger-than-life character who shouldn’t require any promotion. That said, this doc is definitely worth a watch. This is the story of a martyr who abandoned stardom in order to drive philanthropic efforts that are still in motion 40 years after his death. We should all know the story of Harry Chapin.
Victoria Film Festival
Various times, February 5 to 14
Various prices
victoriafilmfestival.com