Synopsis

The curious case of Emitt Rhodes, the mysterious forgotten pop star from the 60s-70s, once dubbed as the secret alter ego of Paul McCartney. Considered by many as The One Man Beatles, his solo recordings of the early 1970s show a clear Paul McCartney influence in both vocals and musicianship. Rhodes began his career in musical ensembles The Merry-Go-Round as lead singer. In 1970, he recorded his first album Emitt Rhodes, and his fourth album Farewell to Paradise was released in 1973. This documentary is a moving journey looking for him, now flushed out and placed in front of a videocamera after spending many years in his house full of old guitars and vintage amplifiers. Cosimo Messeri records the bitterness of his American dream and the traps of the music industry, in a dazed and enthusiastic diary: a portrait of unfulfilled ambitions and loneliness.

Director

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  • Cosimo Messeri
  • Cosimo Messeri was born in 1984 in Piesole. He worked as an assistant director for major Italian directors such as Nanni Moretti and Carlo Mazzacurati. His first short film, "Zeldman" (2006), which he wrote, directed, and acted in, won Best New Director and Critic's Awards at the Valdarno CinemaFed. He is also active as a composer and musician in the band 'Plastic Max.'