Patti Smith: Dream of Life

A lovely, drifty first feature that feels less like a documentary and more like an act of rapturous devotion.

A knowledge of Smith's landmark contribution as a rock 'n' roll pioneer is not essential, and the film should be a joy for anyone interested in pop culture of the past 40 years.

This isn't a performance film, and it is far from a definitive portrait of the androgynous performer.

Steven Sebring spent a decade making this documentary about the punk poet, and it shows.

When embraced on its own terms, the film will provide an ironic bridge for those who want to share a greater closeness with Smith.

The paltry amount of live performances is a crime. In some ways, Smith singing "Gloria" live would've been all the context anyone would ever need.

109 mostly black-and-white minutes of punk's wet nurse floating through the modern world while endlessly ruminating on mortality, art, and the occasional bodily function. Problem is, there's nary a hint of context, even with biographic essentials.