Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson
Famed performance artist Laurie Anderson both directed and starred in the 90-minute concert film Home of the Brave. While the film refuses to “explain” Anderson to those unfamiliar with her work, it serves as a valuable primer, encouraging the uninitiated to do their own further research. Anderson’s non sequitur combinations of music and visuals can be very funny at times, but don’t make the mistake of dismissing her as a mere court jester. The film’s litmus test is its middle section; you’ll either revere or despise Anderson after experiencing this lengthy segment. Among the peripheral personalities in Home of the Brave is legendary self-destructive novelist William Burroughs.
The following pieces are performed in the film:
1. Good Evening (instrumental)
2. Zero and One (spoken word)
3. Excellent Birds
4. Old Hat (spoken word)
5. Drum Dance (instrumental)
6. Smoke Rings
7. Late Show (instrumental with vocal sample by William S. Burroughs)
8. White Lily (spoken word)
9. Sharkey’s Day
10. How to Write (instrumental with spoken word introduction by Won-sang Park)
11. Kokoku
12. Radar (instrumental with wordless vocalizations by Anderson)
13. Gravity’s Angel
14. Langue D’Amour
15. Talk Normal
16. Difficult Listening Hour (spoken word)
17. Language is a Virus
18. Sharkey’s Night
19. Credit Racket (instrumental)
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