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DVD Description
Hilarious and moving by turns, Believe is the story of triumph over adversity. Cameras followed Eddie on a stressful ‘comeback’ tour, and caught the story behind some of his best-loved material en route. Under time pressure and desperate for inspiration, comedian and actor Eddie Izzard delved into his own life story for new material. So began an accidental voyage into his past that paralleled his world tour and culminated in a moment of revelation about the source of his relentless drive.
Includes never-before-seen footage of Eddie’s student days, his chain escape on a unicycle as a street performer, the famous ‘wolves’ sketch and much more. A provoking and inspiring tale of how tragedy can be turned to laughter by sheer force of will.
Includes never-before-seen footage of Eddie’s student days, his chain escape on a unicycle as a street performer, the famous ‘wolves’ sketch and much more. A provoking and inspiring tale of how tragedy can be turned to laughter by sheer force of will.
Special Features
- Commentary
- Bleeped Audio Track
- Featurettes: > Teddy Theatre
> The Photograph
> Vince Henderson Interview
> WWII: The Sequel Promos
> The Amazing Captain Keano Wolves Sketch
> The Eddie & Rob Street Show
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
All documentary, by it's nature, is an attempt to make sense of what we lived at the time. Thankfully, "Believe" is something more than your average documentary : it's a historical, and spiritual, deconstruction of Eddie Izzard. Whereas these days, its all yer O2 Arenas and Wembleys and The Tour That Doesnt Tour But Does Tour Really, and little about the art of comedy.
For years, I was pretty much the only person who I knew who remembered Izzards bizarre and now clasic "raised by wolves" sketch. It wasn't comedy, as such, not in the old fashioned world of traditional setup/expectation/confounded punchline, but - as became Izzard's signature style - more of an amused interpretation of our world than anything as conventional as a punchline. Later on, in 1994, I saw Eddie play to a select audience in Stratford, and also take the role of Edward II in Leicester. Over time, he became bigger, more well-known, and is practically royalty - as well as a determined artist who will try everything once, including gigs in French (included here), and almost any acting job going.
"Believe" is a superior doc - Izzard's life, and personality, are dissected and laid bare. Before this, I confess to knowing nothing of his life bar that he grew up in Eastbourne, and his mother died young. Martin Amis has a theory of Early Death Awareness Syndrome, where compulsive artists are driven to success by the early death of their parents. With this shadow in mind, Izzards career is arced from his youngest days to headlining Wembley Arena. The archive footage, obviously sourced from degraded, ancient VHS tapes, shows a man growing into himself and into who he could be.
Perhaps its that the documentary was made by Izzards former partner that allowed such frank and open access : there are moments here one would never really expect to see. Perhaps this documentaries most powerful moment is where Izzard confronts this, reading letters from his mother to his father, and sees a world that he was always too young to understand. "Somehow, maybe, it could bring her back", he states. I make no apologies for the fact that I too, was in floods of tears at this poignant moment, having experienced a similar loss at a young age. Earlier on, Izzard meets two people dressed as bees, and to hear one of them talk of how they survived a major illness and life-threatening operation by reciting Izzard's sketches in their minds is touching, and shows that, maybe without trying, Izzard has become the lifeline through difficult times that all of us have through his own attempts.
All art is an attempt at achieving immortality. "Believe" is a compelling watch even for those with little knowledge or interest in his work, and is successful at being both a psychological study of a man compelled to act as well as a revealing look at the complicated glory of a human being - and all human beings. Recommended.
For years, I was pretty much the only person who I knew who remembered Izzards bizarre and now clasic "raised by wolves" sketch. It wasn't comedy, as such, not in the old fashioned world of traditional setup/expectation/confounded punchline, but - as became Izzard's signature style - more of an amused interpretation of our world than anything as conventional as a punchline. Later on, in 1994, I saw Eddie play to a select audience in Stratford, and also take the role of Edward II in Leicester. Over time, he became bigger, more well-known, and is practically royalty - as well as a determined artist who will try everything once, including gigs in French (included here), and almost any acting job going.
"Believe" is a superior doc - Izzard's life, and personality, are dissected and laid bare. Before this, I confess to knowing nothing of his life bar that he grew up in Eastbourne, and his mother died young. Martin Amis has a theory of Early Death Awareness Syndrome, where compulsive artists are driven to success by the early death of their parents. With this shadow in mind, Izzards career is arced from his youngest days to headlining Wembley Arena. The archive footage, obviously sourced from degraded, ancient VHS tapes, shows a man growing into himself and into who he could be.
Perhaps its that the documentary was made by Izzards former partner that allowed such frank and open access : there are moments here one would never really expect to see. Perhaps this documentaries most powerful moment is where Izzard confronts this, reading letters from his mother to his father, and sees a world that he was always too young to understand. "Somehow, maybe, it could bring her back", he states. I make no apologies for the fact that I too, was in floods of tears at this poignant moment, having experienced a similar loss at a young age. Earlier on, Izzard meets two people dressed as bees, and to hear one of them talk of how they survived a major illness and life-threatening operation by reciting Izzard's sketches in their minds is touching, and shows that, maybe without trying, Izzard has become the lifeline through difficult times that all of us have through his own attempts.
All art is an attempt at achieving immortality. "Believe" is a compelling watch even for those with little knowledge or interest in his work, and is successful at being both a psychological study of a man compelled to act as well as a revealing look at the complicated glory of a human being - and all human beings. Recommended.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was wondering whether this might be a bit of a rehash of various interviews, his book etc but this does have a lot of new information on Eddie's life, especially footage of his street performing days and even at school.
What makes this a stand-out for me is the extras contain the whole Wolves routine from his first TV appearance. For years people have thought me mad for going on about it when no one appeared to know about it (except 1 friend who remembered it too) and I had been trying to remember which show it was on and get a copy. It was as insane as I'd remembered and looking back at it now it seems so strange he wasn't instantly snapped up on the strength of that one routine.
The determination of this man is amazing and makes you realise that his marathon man business was just an extension of his entire life of pushing himself, taking risks and decisions that most people would balk at and his insight as to why is almost heart-breaking.
Eddie, I salute you and your little red car.
What makes this a stand-out for me is the extras contain the whole Wolves routine from his first TV appearance. For years people have thought me mad for going on about it when no one appeared to know about it (except 1 friend who remembered it too) and I had been trying to remember which show it was on and get a copy. It was as insane as I'd remembered and looking back at it now it seems so strange he wasn't instantly snapped up on the strength of that one routine.
The determination of this man is amazing and makes you realise that his marathon man business was just an extension of his entire life of pushing himself, taking risks and decisions that most people would balk at and his insight as to why is almost heart-breaking.
Eddie, I salute you and your little red car.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I bought this product previously as i have a portable player that will play non pal format dvds. This is an excellent dvd, very moving,also shares information that hasn't been seen before. It delves deep into what drives Eddie and shows in some way how he can do the things he does, ( many marathons for instance). If the final bit doesn't make you want to believe in Eddie then there's no hope left.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Worth it for the Wolves sketch alone!
In truth, I bought this DVD just to see the Wolves sketch (from the 1991 Hysteria 3 show) again - which was even funnier than I remembered. Read more
Published 7 months ago by rh
Beautiful
Loved this so much. I felt as though we saw the man behind the comedy and the fishnets & lippy. I also realised how fiercely he guards the privacy of his girlfriends. Read more
Published 8 months ago by essessesse
Unknown facts for the casual fan
This is a must have for the casual fan. Intresting facts mixed up with a ongoing working process Mr Izzard have before a show. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Peter Banck
Perfect item
I have received the item in perfect conditions and in a couple of days.
However I can't give 5 stars because this item presents only english subtitles.
However I can't give 5 stars because this item presents only english subtitles.
Published 8 months ago by jack
The film we've all been waiting for!
If you're a fan of Eddie's then you will not want to miss this and if you're not then buy it anyway because it's a really well thought out documentary style biopic and if you... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Gardengirl47
Can't stop thinking about this documentary!
If you're a fan of Eddie Izzard, you will absolutely want to buy this DVD. Even if you're not a fan, you will appreciate the story of how someone can come from nowhere -- nowhere! Read more
Published 11 months ago by John Rhodes
Believable
Good Old Eddie. The abstract "brainy" standup of Mr. Izzard makes him one of my all-time favourites in the biz. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mojo Martin
Hope - Thy name be Eddie
For a long time -years in fact- I've battled to find help for my child with a learning disability. I never lost hope, never let go of why I did it and most of all I believed. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Henriette Kristina
Great dvd for Eddie fans
This is a great dvd for Eddie Izzard fans.
Lots of interviews & great depth about how he got into the buisness & achieved his success. Read more
Lots of interviews & great depth about how he got into the buisness & achieved his success. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Cedric
Don't bother, it's being broadcast by BBC2 before Xmas
I haven't actually watched it yet, having bought this as a Christmas present. It has arrived in good time and is probably very good. Read more
Published 17 months ago by D. Knox
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