A character portrait of ‘musicians’ musician’ and anti-archetypal guitar hero, Bill Frisell. This film traces the development of Frisell’s music and provides rare insight into the shaping of one of the significant musicians of recent decades. Full of live music and following various projects from development to fruition, this film features a variety of collaborators, including Paul Motian, Jim Hall, Hal Willner, Joey Baron, Jason Moran, Nels Cline, Mike Gibbs, Jack DeJohnette, John Zorn, John Abercrombie, Paul Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Jim Woodring, Greg Cohen, Tony Scherr and others.
"Winning Portrait About A Very Nice Guitarist” - New York Times, CRITICS CHOICE
"Immersive, and beautiful... We watch SO MANY MUSIC FILMS and it’s really hard to make a good one. So many are all just the same... but this is exquisite." - Janet Pierson, Director, South by South West Film Festival
"One of the most compelling, entertaining and informative films made about a living music legend who still has plenty left to say.” - John Kelman, All About Jazz Magazine
"I feel like I got to spend an intimate evening with a great American artist. It's a charming and revealing portrait of an artist constantly in search of inspiration, expression, and a wild insight into his creative process." - Simon Kilmurry, Executive Director, International Documentary Association
"It's like the inside of my brain" - Bill Frisell
“A professional, serious and important look at one of the music world’s best minds.” – Jason Verlinde, Fretboard Journal Magazine
"Musical and filmic creativity merge unquestionably in a simply-named documentary feature… Bill Frisell, A Portrait." - David Tereshchuk, The Huffington Post.
“In my opinion, it may be the most profound film of its kind that we will ever show on the channel.” - Michal Shapiro, Link TV, U.S.A.
“Franz has skilfully combined three perspectives into a multi-narrative, multi-perspective on a journey. She is doing for documentary what Robert Altman did for fiction film. It is a ground-breaking and exciting shift in the usually mono perspective of the hero’s journey.” - Catherine Gough-Brady, Realtime Magazine
“The film is well crafted and uses imagery of vast landscapes, both natural and human… It is incredibly stylish and has a sophistication rarely seen in early works.” - Screen Hub, Australia
“Intriguing debut feature by Emma Franz. The climactic meeting with visibly frail Kim Seok-Chul is genuinely affecting.” - Joe Leydon, Variety Magazine
“A complex musical and cultural exploration that taps into the spiritual essence of an art form.” - Indiewire
“This is documentary making at its finest, and is a film well worth seeking out. 4 and ½ stars” - John Lampard, disassociated.com
“A fascinating trip from the very first stop. 4 and ½ stars.” - Jay Seaver, efilmcritc
“[Intangible Asset Number 82] blew my mind away. It takes the viewers on the journey, involving them more and more. I found it quite fabulous, moving and unexpected.” - Paul LePetit, Film Critic, Sunday Telegraph, Australia
“[Franz] is clearly a dedicated documentarian, with the ability to suss out narrative in a complex story.” - Katie Alderman, Walrus Magazine, Canada
"Intangible Asset No. 82" shows us that art occurs at the intersection of deep knowledge and compassion, where human self-knowledge is at one with the natural world. In a world where tangible assets are constantly being measured and compared, "Intangible Asset No. 82" gives the viewer a visible demonstration of a musician seeking and achieving transformative oneness. It is indeed a profound and moving film." - Yo-Yo Ma, cellist
“A very deep and unique film, [Intangible Asset Number 82] manages to capture those slight but significant moments which are so difficult to portray in cinema.” - Ryota Kotani, NHK, Japan
“Wow… this film absolutely blew me away! Even if you’re not a drummer, or musically inclined, there is an important message in this film for you, too. I cannot recommend this documentary enough! Awesome! and then some…” - Austin Daze
“In the true tradition of transformative filmmaking, Emma Franz has documented an artist’s personal odyssey that results in a universal cultural epiphany. Intangible Asset Number 82 is that rare work of alchemy where the power of music and film combine to transform character and transport an audience through art.” - Richard Lorber, Kino Lorber
“A sublime ending.” - Chris Knight, National Post, Canada
“The long waited appearance of Kim Seok-Chul has more impact than that of Marlon Brando's in 'Apocalypse Now'.” - Cho Sung-Eun, Film Critic, Korea
“Incredibly entertaining on its own, also a special gift for those who are wise enough and aware enough to grasp its import.” - Dony Wynn, Drummer; Robert Palmer, Steve Winwood, Patty LaBelle
“In life, the journey itself is more fundamental and fulfilling than the destination, and this tenet has rarely been more transcendently demonstrated than in Emma Franz's magnificent documentary Intangible Asset No. 82... the film has succeeded well beyond its origins as an eclectic road documentary. However, the best is yet to come, and though it would be imprudent to reveal the nature of the resolution to Barker's original mission, suffice to say that it serves as the most fitting final movement to this remarkable cinematic symphony, at once surprising and inevitable. Regardless of its title, Intangible Asset No. 82 promises to reward the audience with numerous tangible pleasures.” - Phillip Maher AllMovie.com
“Franz does an incredible job. Her lighting (mostly natural) is beautiful and her images are powerful. She is able to capture a singer perched on a waterfall and a private shamanic ceremony, both difficult circumstances under which to film, and disappears into both scenes easily so that the audience feels like its participating in the action… I found myself totally captivated by Barker's journey and Franz's strong imagery.” - Ellen Spiro, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Film Department, University of Texas
“A testament to the power of music.” – Justin Mover, Washington City Paper
Stream or download Emma Franz's award-winning music odyssey, Intangible Asset Number 82
Purchase the film on DVD
Purchase an Educational Licence
To host a screening, contact the office of Emma Franz Films
Videos of old TV performances found in the vaults!
performing ‘Blow Top Blues’
