The Nomi Song (2003)

94% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(919 ratings)

Andrew Horn (co-writer/producer of East Side Story) directs the documentary The Nomi Song, a portrait of late German artist Klaus Nomi. Born in Bavaria during the '40s, Nomi was a trained opera singer who became an underground cult figure in New York City during the '70s. Fancifully dressed in… More Andrew Horn (co-writer/producer of East Side Story) directs the documentary The Nomi Song, a portrait of late German artist Klaus Nomi. Born in Bavaria during the '40s, Nomi was a trained opera singer who became an underground cult figure in New York City during the '70s. Fancifully dressed in black-and-white costumes, Nomi performed unique cabaret shows and earned a small but loyal fan base. He made recordings, appeared in films, and even sang for commercials. He was building up a career in Europe when he fell ill. He died in 1983 of an AIDS-related infection. The documentary includes interviews with actress Ann Magnuson, art director Page Wood, and photographer Anthony Scibelli. The Nomi Song won the Teddy Award at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Andrew Horn
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Feb 4, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Jun 14, 2005
Studio: Palm Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The Nomi Song is pieced together from photos, performance footage, and talking-head interviews, but director Andew Horn has taken great care to fashion a strong story arc.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
This is fascinating stuff if you know just the commercial side of that strange music and fashion ripple known as New Wave.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
Mostly fascinating, but occasionally frustrating.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Paints a vivid portrait of the sense of play and possibility that animated the best of the punk and new wave movements.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Amusingly and wistfully records how the artist and his crowd tried to make a success of it beyond the Mudd Club and other downtown haunts.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Andrew Horn's film charts Nomi's remarkable rise, his brief cult fame and his untimely flameout in 1983 as one of the arts community's earliest AIDS fatalities.
Jean-François Vandeuren, Panorama
Un documentaire qui rend justice à un personnage fascinant, mais dont on aurait tout de même voulu en savoir davantage
Bill Gibron, DVD Verdict
While he was never a Top 40 hitmaker, Klaus Nomi was an important artist...and The Nomi Song is a cinematic anthem to his unorthodox individuality.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Like Nomi's work, there is some distinct style at play that reflects its subject matter.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
A well-made doc of a beyond-description music act that combined cabaret, operatic falsetto, and the stark minimalism of a cheesy 1940 sci-fi pic.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
If retro ain't your thing, fear not; this doesn't feel dated in the least.
Jason Ferguson, Orlando Weekly
This film expertly captures the scenesters' singular, blinding devotion to art at all costs, as well as their playful and communal attitudes.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
This may be the best Behind the Music special you'll never see on VH1.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
This intriguingly well-made documentary tells us just about everything we could possibly want to know about the mesmerising 1970s singer.
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
Compassionate and critically astute.