“I just want to play well, share the stage with my friends, give the best I can," says Neil Young rock/blues/folk/country's genuine icon before the concert. He continues. “I have my own musicians; I don’t play with just anyone I meet. I don’ have session musicians too. I’m basically telling a story of what’s on my mind, My family, my experiences, it’s a reflection of what’s happening to me, my family. It’s not about the music, but about me. I can say that I am not that big like I was when I was 20 years old. Now I’m 60. I feel like a leaf on a river.”

For his side the director has also a say in the making of this powerful, emotional country documentary. “The success this concert brings, but it’s a documentary which will stay forever.” Reveals Jonathan Demme who is an Oscar winner for ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ he also helmed Talking Heads' ‘Stop Making Sense’.

The film opens with interviews with Young and most of his band, which includes country superstar Emmylou Harris, Young's wife Pegi Young, steel guitarist Ben Keith, and keyboardist Spooner Oldham. They and the other band members describe the concert and the making of ‘Prairie Wind’. The recording of the album and the filming of the concert occurred just before and after Young's surgery to correct a cerebral aneurysm, and just a few months after the death of Young's father Scott Young.

Shot on 18^th August 2005 and released as a DVD sometime in June 2006, you get a first hand close up view of the stage and the man in question singer-songwriter Neil Young who gives off an exemplary performance of each track. The film was also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. According to Young, soon after completing his critically acclaimed album ‘Prairie Wind’, he took to the fabled Ryman Auditorium – the historic home of Nashville’s Grand Old Opry, by storm, blowing away the audience as he debuted the music to an audience who were held in rapture as he sang songs from the new album and many classics from his catalog like ‘The Painter’, ‘Heart of Gold’ and ‘Harvest Moon’. Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, once the heart of country music is still one of most prestigious auditoriums, famous for the light that shines through the stained-glass windows of the once sacred hall.

The first half of the concert consists entirely of songs from ‘Prairie Wind’, and the second half consists of acoustic songs from throughout Young's career.

Young plays about thirty songs from his career, in a setting that is divine. Young and his band (which, with the addition of horns, strings, and backup singers, including the help of Peggi Young, Emmylou Harris, Ben Keith, numbers about forty or more musicians) perform ‘Prairie Wind’. The sound is incredible and it’s largely acoustic. The songs include the gospel-tinged ‘When God Made Me’, ‘No Wonder’ to songs about Young’s deceased father ‘Heart of Gold’, his adult daughter ‘Here for You’. He also brings back memories with the instruments he plays. Thus you can see him playing a guitar (a Martin D – 28) that once belonged to Hank Williams, an instrument which hasn't graced the stage of the Ryman since 1951. He dedicates a song to the legend when he sings ‘This Old Guitar’ all in acoustic sound with Emmylou Harris. Neil gives personal reasons for writing some of his songs and the inspiration behind several of his songs.The backing vocals are rich, elegant and forceful. There’s also a bonus song ‘He was The King’ with a lot of reference made to the rock and roll great Elvis. Some of the other songs performed live include ‘I am a Child’, ‘Old Man’, ‘Needle & the Damage Done’, ‘Old King’, ‘4 Strong Winds’, and an incredible ‘One of These Days’. Towards the end as the concert ends and the credits list rolls in, it's just Neil on the stage, seated on a chair, the crowds have left, no band mates, playing acoustically ‘The Old Laughing Lady’.

Some of the highlights to watch out for are the songs like ‘No Wonder’ featuring Neil Young's longtime friend Grant Boatwright. There’s also ‘Far From Home’ where Young introduces the song by telling a story about his father giving him an Arthur Godfrey ukelele when he was about 7 years old and working on a chicken farm. There’s also Young playing the piano on ‘When God Made Me’ backed by the Fisk University Jubilee Singers and Spooner Oldham on organ. Lastly the tastefully done and extremely long ‘Old King’ featuring Young on six-string banjo, accompanied by Emmylou Harris on rhythm guitar and harmony vocals.

Now in the twilight of his career, old man Neil Young who is also in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame remains a favorite the world over, one who can generate attention in a few moments. He has produced some of the most memorable music in popular culture in his four decade career. The DVD also has backstage shots of Neil Young with his band, rehearsals with his band, backup singers for the big show, and members of the band chat about Neil to a special countdown to the main day.

A second disc of bonus features includes a variety of featurettes and a solo performance of ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ from ‘The Johnny Cash Show’ in 1971.

Rating: ***1/2

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira