Some believe that “superstars are not born, they are created.” Director Jonathan Holiff explores this statement in the documentary, My Father and the Man in Black, a film about his overbearing father, Saul Holiff, and his relationship with the legendary Johnny Cash. Jonathan documents his quest to find out more about his father and his experience as Johnny’s manager, revealing the ups and downs of Cash’s career and the effect it had on Saul’s life.
Holiff is described as the man behind the success of Johnny Cash. From day one, Holiff is shown as a natural born leader, like Cash. The two men got along so well because they were both incredibly strong, yet guarded, whose similar alpha-male nature made opening up impossible. In the entertainment industry where image is everything, Holiff wanted his to be perfect. The stress of achieving perfection while working non-stop with Johnny eventually took a toll on Holiff, who succumbed to taking his own life. On top of that, Saul didn’t even leave a note for a young, hurt Jonathan.
Following the death of his father, Jonathan begins to investigate who his dad really was. The film picks up steam when Jonathan takes the audience into his family’s storage unit and uncovers hundreds of never-before-published letters and audio recordings, taped phone calls, and diaries from his father documenting Saul’s personal demons and troubles he had with Johnny. From Cash’s pill-fueled near overdoses in 1960 to playing at Folsom and San Quentin Prison, and through his conversion to a born-again Christian in1970, Jonathan leaves no stone unturned as uncovers how his father was there to pick up the pieces.
It feels like the film was made as more of a cathartic and emotional release for Jonathan as opposed to him wanting the world to know about the life of Saul Holiff.
My Father and the Man in Black is unique in its form because it plays like more of a docu-drama; While incorporating archival footage, it also includes re-enactment scenes and voice-over narration throughout the film. This switching in direction keeps the audience engaged, although it borders on the side of slightly confusing and distracting.
As director, producer, writer, and actor, Jonathan Holiff wears many hats in this film. However, his attempt at the one-man-band approach doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head. At times, the film seems to shift gears from its unbiased, historical accounts of events to obvious venting at his late father. It feels like the film was made as more of a cathartic and emotional release for Jonathan as opposed to him wanting the world to know about the life of Saul Holiff.
In any case, if you’re a fan of Johnny Cash, this documentary is definitely worth a watch. Even if you’re just a music buff, this film gives a further and unseen perspective into the life of Johnny Cash- the good times and the bad times, no holds barred.
