The Beatles: Let It Be – An Iconic Documentary

Within the first five minutes of this remastered version of the 1970’s Let It Be, audiences are welcomed to a conversation between director Michael Lindsay-Hogg and the director of The Beatles: Get Back, Peter Jackson. The former is referred to as the father of the 2021 Disney+ docuseries. They stated that the film would be released in May 1970, a month after The Beatles had split. After fifty-four years of a difficult process to broadcast it, Jackson’s Park Road Post Production house was responsible for remastering it, and it will finally arrive at Disney+ tomorrow.

Once Lindsay-Hogg and Jackson finish their conversation, the film fades to black before coming back to Paul and Ringo in fitted suits playing the piano with a purple background behind them. It is merely a sneak peek of what the near 90-minutes of the film will bring. It is roughly divided into three parts. The first is on a soundstage, where they rehearse and finish writing the 1969 classic album. It observes their relationship while creating and sharpening the LP, but there is a clear discomfort there. Some looks seem to mean more than words and the sound of throats cleaning while another member is saying something. They seem exhausted with that process and even with each other’s company.

Besides these subtle details, Lindsay-Hogg’s directing uses colors to underline the song’s rehearsals. A white wall receives diverse different colorful backdrops like a cover to their performance. It suits their clothes nicely, as the purple in the back mixes with John Lennon’s purple shirt. This small expression in the directing excites and tells audiences that it is way more than a “concert film”, per se. And sometimes, it does not need visual excerpts to increase its impact, the songs do it themselves. When analyzed, the shooting shows the first performance of that classical song, which makes it even more impressive. It happens with the moment when they sing “Across the Universe ” or “Don’t Let Me Down”. Songs with unforgettable hooks that capture the audience’s look when sung.

Then, the middle part consists of the recording sessions at the Apple Corps headquarters. Alongside chaotic production moments, there are some important breathers. Paul’s daughter Heather plays drums with Ringo or their anecdotes about writing and singing corrections. It does not repeat itself from the seen performances of the soundstage, but it has another feeling attached to it. A more serious and rigid atmosphere surrounds it. Even Paul stated that it was a moment of “No TV show, no audience”. It highlights how tired they were of Beatlemania. They just wanted to be there for a final piece. The recording of the title song is a climax in itself. It calls all the momentum for it and it is quite the emotional core of the film, followed by an energetic performance of the final song “Get Back”.

The last one is the iconic rooftop final performance of the group. The last time they sang together for an audience. It shifts the tone and becomes a report of a historical moment. Crew on the rooftop. Cameras on the streets recording people’s reactions to that noise. Passages of police knocking on Apple Corps to ask for lowering the noise. It all adds to an iconic moment in musical history that marks the end of an era. Not just the last time the biggest band has performed together, but also a transition to a new period. The film and Get Back capture that time capsule with such impact and precision.

Let It Be is an iconic documentary. Supported by the recording of a classic album and the final work of one of the biggest groups of all time. After fifty-four years, the public can see a great observational work of an iconic art piece. Michael Lindsay-Hogg achieves a high level of impact by simply choosing the right moments to keep the camera stopped and the spectacle happening. It is a must-watch film not only for Beatles fans but for any admirer of film.

still courtesy of Getty Images

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Pedro Lima

Brazilian film writer. He is also a producer and executive producer for Zariah Filmes. Member of the International Film Society Critics Association (IFSCA), International Documentary Association (IDA), and Gotham and Media Film Institute.