It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley review – a sympathetic, urgent look at a life cut tragically short

Director Amy Berg premiered her emotionally resonant documentary, "It’s Never Over," during recent film festival screenings this month, offering a comprehensive re-examination of the life and 1997 accidental drowning of American singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. The film seeks to move beyond the mythology of the musician's tragic death in Memphis to provide an intimate portrait of his creative process and the immense industry pressure he faced. Through a blend of archival footage and deeply personal interviews, Berg paints a picture of an artist caught between his soaring musical ambitions and the grueling logistical demands of a major-label record contract. The documentary distinguishes itself by moving away from external speculation and instead relying on the voices of those closest to the artist. Featuring extensive contributions from Buckley's mother, Mary Guibert, as well as former romantic partners, the film explores his displacement as the son of folk legend Tim Buckley and his eventual rise in the New York music scene. These testimonies reveal the toll that the commercial success of his debut album, "Grace," took on his mental and physical well-being, as he struggled to produce a follow-up under the watchful eye of Sony Music executives. Critically, the film examines the "contractually demanded" nature of Buckley’s later years, which were characterized by relentless global touring and the anxiety of being a generational talent. Berg highlights how the industry’s hunger for multi-album commitments clashed with Buckley's mercurial and perfectionist nature. By documenting both his prodigious talent and the exhaustion that preceded his final swim in the Wolf River, "It’s Never Over" serves as both a celebration of a unique discography and a cautionary tale regarding the commodification of raw artistic genius.