Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke
NYPL Talks Blaze with Director Ethan Hawke

(released 8/27/2018)


Blaze screened at the New York Public Library on the evening of August 23, 2018, ahead of a wider release for the film beginning September 7 in New York. Ethan Hawke gave a talk back to the audience in attendance.

Blaze is a film by Ethan Hawke about a Texas music legend named Blaze Foley.  Foley grew up in a tree house, was a songwriter, a part of The Texas Outlaw Music Movement, and was shot dead in a friend's living room. The film is adapted from the memoir of Sybil Rosen, Living in the Woods in a Tree: Remembering Blaze Foley. Foley's love for Sybil Rosen and his last night on earth are twisting throughout the film's storyline. Directed by Hawke, the film has a slow southern trance that guides you through musician Blaze Foley's journey. Foley, played by Ben Dickey, falls in love hard, follows his instincts and his muse Rosen. Foley runs in circles on the fringes of Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, only his drinking stops his forward movement at times.

Ethan Hawke understands the south in the tone of this movie.  "Melencholy" is how Hawke describes the film.  The action of the actors is natural.  Ben Dickey's lulling voice performed as Blaze Foley is captured live throughout the film.  No voice or dub overs, straight live action singing, according to director Hawke.  There are several actors in the film, legends in music as well as actors you recognize. No spoilers here, you will appreciate them like I did when you see them.

Ethan Hawke can currently be seen acting in Juliet, Naked a romantic comedy produced by Judd Apatow.  Blaze and Juliet, Naked mark Hawke's 12th and 13th film to screen at the Sundance Film Festival, with Blaze being Hawke's first time attending as a director.

Blaze will open in Los Angeles September 14, then onto more cities September 21, and additional theaters are set to open September 28. You can follow the film's openings @Blaze_Movie or BLAZETHEMOVIE.COM.



Ethan Hawke (right)


Ethan Hawke


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