A day in the life of Nick Cave in this dramatised documentary presents the inner thoughts and background of the Australian musician behind his brooding persona. Best known for his lyrical artistry and onstage presence, Cave shows a heartfelt, vulnerable, and even humorous side. Featuring his collaborators, such as Warren Ellis, Blixa Bargeld, and Kylie Minogue, and his family, 20,000 Days on Earth was filmed in Brighton, United Kingdom, during a relatively peaceful period of the star’s life and takes viewers to that ‘shimmering space where reality and imagination intersect’. Filmmakers Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard deftly blend the biographical elements within the film’s fictional setup, presenting a film that will satisfy fans and convert newcomers.

Iain Forsyth (b. 1973, United Kingdom) and Jane Pollard (b. 1972, United Kingdom) met each other while studying at Goldsmiths College in the mid-1990s and have worked together ever since. Music often plays a significant role in their work, including the black-and-white short film Anyone Else Isn’t You (2005), featuring 14 people talking on camera about the importance of music in their romantic relationships. 20,000 Days on Earth (2014) is their first feature film starring Nick Cave as himself in a documentary-drama hybrid.