It’s impossible to truly tell the life story of someone dead. Or rather, it’s impossible to do so without their passing hanging heavy over every moment. This is one of many truths revealed in the 2025 documentary It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley (directed by Amy J. Berg). The documentary follows the short life of the singular, yet overlooked, singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley with a combination of old photographs and videos, journal excerpts, and interviews from people he was close to.
I can’t begin to sum up the rich yet brief life that Jeff Buckley lived; you’ll have to watch the film for that. However, I can tell you that Jeff had an entrance into the music industry that was both cliché and deeply unique. His father, Tim Buckley, was also a famous songwriter, from whom Jeff inherited his beautifully expressive voice. But they had a fraught relationship that was barely a relationship at all. The film crafts a beautiful juxtaposition between Jeff and his father, and does an excellent job highlighting the complicated relationship they shared- or didn’t share.
Jeff got his professional start performing at a memorial service for his father, after which he was approached by many people in the music industry and booked weekly coffeehouse gigs. Most notably, he worked and performed at Siné, a coffee shop in the East Village of NYC. However, as his popularity grew and he signed to Columbia records, he started to experience more and more stress. He had contempt for the music business and the fame it forced upon him. He was anxious, tense, and showing signs of manic depression. His otherworldly musical talent propelled him into a life he was not ready for.
The film itself is beautifully done. The interviews felt tasteful and genuine, and I appreciated the emphasis placed on Jeff’s musical influences. He was a beautiful interpreter of other people’s music, and it feels like every other image on screen is of one of the many artists he admired. His wide range of influences, from Nina Simone to Led Zeppelin to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, is included in his own writing and music.
There is a fog hanging over this film, though. In every funny story told about Jeff, there’s a hint of sadness in the interviewee’s eyes. There’s a harsh intake of breath in the room when a concerning journal entry is shown on the screen. There’s a general feeling of dread that’s conveyed in every minute of this film. And by the time you watch Jeff move far from his friends and family while suffering a nervous breakdown, there’s a sense that it’s already over.
But as they say, it’s never truly over. Jeff Buckley’s legacy is made extremely clear; he lives on through his music and through his profound love for the people in his life. And I believe he would have liked it that way. I highly recommend this film to lovers of music and people who like crying at the movies. Please note that the film includes sensitive topics such as drugs, sexual content, and profanity, and may not be suitable for all viewers.
