Life-long Love Story Of Leonard Cohen And His Norwegian Muse Marianne Ihlen

Life-long Love Story Of Leonard Cohen And His Norwegian Muse Marianne Ihlen

Posted
leonard cohen
Leonard Cohen live at Hammersmith Odeon, London. Photo by Terry Lott/Sony Music Archive via Getty Images.

Marianne And Leonard: Words Of Love is a documentary by Nick Bloomfield that tells the beautiful and tragic, life-long love story of Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse Marianne Ihlen. The pair first met on the idyllic Greek island of Hydra in 1960 where they connected in a bohemian community of foreign artists, writers and musicians. Whilst their island paradise love affair was relatively short-lived, theirs was an enduring connection that would grow with them and shape the course of both their lives in the decades that followed, right up until they died within months of each other in 2016. 

The heartrending love story takes us from the sun-bleached Greek islands to the moment of Marianne’s death from leukaemia, aged 81, and the final correspondence she received from Cohen: 

“Dearest Marianne, I’m just a little behind you, close enough to take your hand. This old body has given up, just as yours has too, and the eviction notice is on its way any day now. I’ve never forgotten your love and your beauty. But you know that. I don’t have to say any more. Safe travels old friend. See you down the road. Love and gratitude. Leonard.”

The film is illuminated by an elegantly haunting score (produced by Nick Laird-Clowes of The Dream Academy) that perfectly captures the shimmering Mediterranean atmosphere amidst the emotionally charged drama. Watch the trailer below. 

Nick Laird-Clowes has been composing music for both film and documentaries for the past two decades and has collaborated on previous films with director, Nick Bloomfield, including Whitney: Can I Be Me and Battle For Haditha.

Marianne was the muse behind many of Leonard Cohen’s greatest works. The original score for Bloomfield’s latest film, Marianne And Leonard: Words of Love is a timeless and poignant elegy to lasting love. Stream or download the album here. 

A vinyl edition will also be released in November. Check out the full tracklisting and pre-order details here. 

Listen to Marianne And Leonard: Words Of Love on Spotify:

Related Posts

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE