[SXSW 2024] DORY PREVIN: ON MY WAY TO WHERE -- An Intimate Documentary of a Music Icon

Review by Jonathan Berk

Documentary biographies can be pumped out pretty quickly in a paint-by-numbers fashion. Those can be entertaining and informative, even if they aren't looking to do anything new. Despite the possibility of those working, it's far more common for them to feel like a slog, as the filmmaker opts to deliver a checklist of accomplishments while never really delivering a sense of who that person's personality is. Fortunately, directors Julia Greenberg and Dianna Dilworth found a unique way to deliver their documentary, Dory Previn: On My Way to Where, providing what feels like true insight into the film's subject. 

Combining archival footage, journals, animation, and just a few talking head interviews with tons of music and interesting sound design, the documentary gets to the heart of who Dory Previn was. As a singer and songwriter, Dory notoriously didn't shy away from exactly who she was, but the documentary provides incredible access via her journals to explore this idea even more. It seems her diary would appear on screen- sometimes stylized, often with animated doodles - and a voiceover actress would read the words that offered insight into various moments of Dory's life. By the end of the film, the audience is left feeling like they've been in a 70-minute conversation with the woman herself. 

Audiences can go into this documentary without knowledge of the subject and walk out feeling like they've known Dory all their lives. This isn't a comprehensive list of everything she did, which would feel impersonal. You probably don't know your best friend's full resume unless you have experienced it with them. Instead, you just know them, what kinds of choices they would make, and probably the rationale behind them. That's what this film manages to accomplish. It's not attempting to give you the full picture of her actions but rather why she did them. This feels far more important and will likely make the film linger in your mind for days, much like after the parting from a loved one; that feeling of absence lingers. 

The technical aspects of this documentary are also quite impressive. People often don't think of documentaries as a genre that allows for much creativity. Many, especially in the last several years, have pushed back against this idea. Film is a visual medium, despite the genre being displayed. As mentioned, the film's use of animation and text is impactful. They reduce the distraction and force us to focus on the words being said. The journals were primarily Dory's conversation with Mama, Max, and a lion. The context behind those three figures and their animated counterparts is further explained in the film. You'll not forget this stylistic choice. 

Dory Previn: On My Way to Where is a documentary that refuses to be forgotten. It's not loud or bombastic, but it is inviting and confident. The filmmakers are aware of what they have available, and they've found a great way to share it with the world. Much like the musical biopic has come under an abundance of critical disdain, a biographic documentary often brings a similar hesitation. However, this is NOT just another one. 

Dory Previn: On My Way to Where is screening at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which runs March 8-16 in Austin, TX. 

Rating: 5/5