Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nick Cave music docu celebrates creativity; strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
This Much I Know to Be True
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THIS MUCH I KNOW TO BE TRUE, musician Nick Cave performs songs from his albums Ghosteen and Carnage with long-time creative partner Warren Ellis. Between songs, the pair discuss creativity, music, and life.
Is It Any Good?
Evocative, thrilling, menacing, and sometimes heavenly, decades of sublime musical output has put Cave among the highest ranks of songwriters and performers. Unfortunately, the music performed in This Much I Know To Be True, which draws from two albums from 2019 and 2021, doesn't showcase this. During the film, Cave says it's pointless for him to write a song now, as his writing partner Ellis insists only on free form jams that go on for hours. These are then scoured to find something worth developing with Cave calling the moments they keep, "snippets in an ocean of bulls--t." The songs here are tone poems and mood pieces. They're well respected, just don't expect to be humming any of them once the film ends. Despite being mostly performances, the film is at its best during the relaxed documentary segments. These paint an inspirational portrait of a prolific artist in his mid-60s who is still creating and working to balance art and life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what This Much I Know to Be True had to say about creativity. In what ways did Nick Cave express himself? What do you think drives a person to create?
In what ways did Cave and his partner, Warren Ellis, demonstrate good teamwork? Why is this such an important life skill? Can you think of a time when you've shown good teamwork?
Talk about the strong language used in the film. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Have you heard about work-life balance? In the film, Cave says he is trying to not be defined by his work and instead is working to become a well-rounded person. How might someone achieve this and what do you think are the benefits?
How did this music documentary compare to other movies about musicians you might have seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 11, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : July 8, 2022
- Cast : Nick Cave , Warren Ellis , Marianne Faithfull
- Director : Andrew Dominik
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Trafalgar Releasing
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Run time : 105 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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