Ethan Hawke’s Documentary Offers Intimate Portrait of Country Outlaw Merle Haggard
A new documentary directed by Ethan Hawke delves into the life and artistry of country music icon Merle Haggard, revealing a complex figure grappling with pride, shame, and a turbulent past. The film draws heavily from a 2014 interview Haggard gave to Ken Burns, secured with the help of Rosanne Cash, who believed Haggard knew he was nearing the end of his life and wanted to complete the interview as a favor.
The documentary explores Haggard’s difficult early life, including witnessing a johnny Cash concert at San Quentin prison.Despite experiencing hardship-Haggard stated, “I’ve had the shit kicked outta me, and I’m surprised at my own integrity, that I don’t hate people”-the film highlights his surprising tenderness.
Haggard’s “outlaw” past was initially a source of embarrassment, despite its potential for branding. It was Johnny Cash who publicly revealed Haggard’s time as an ex-con on his television show in the late 1960s. Even then, Haggard resisted capitalizing on the notoriety, despite penning songs like “I Take a Lot of Pride in What I Am” and the self-reflective “Sometimes I Dream,” where he confessed, “Sometimes I hate myself and wish I could scream.” Hawke notes this internal conflict mirrored a common struggle among men of Haggard’s generation, balancing pride and shame.
The documentary also features anecdotes from Dolly Parton, who recalled a late-night phone call from Haggard professing his admiration, and Rosanne Cash, who discussed Haggard’s later-life interest in UFOs and his four-hour call-in to the radio show “Coast to Coast.”
The film addresses Haggard’s often-contradictory songwriting, ranging from the progressive “Irma Jackson” to the more conservative “Okie From Muskogee” and “Fightin’ Side of Me,” culminating in his support for Hillary Clinton with the song “Let’s Put a Woman in Charge.”
Despite the reliance on audio material, hawke captures Haggard’s enduring spirit, even in his final years, as evidenced by his labored breathing during the burns interview, punctuated by moments of characteristic wit. The documentary is being hailed as a long-overdue tribute to a significant American artist.
