A significant portion of This Much I Know to Be True unfolds within a soundstage setting. Inside that space is what can be described as a literal circle of light, and at its center stands Nick Cave, appearing somewhat hesitant in the attention he receives. This reluctance stems from the fact that while his image appears on the promotional materials, the film seeks to document the work of a partnership where Warren Ellis forms the other half. On paper, the arrangement doesn’t seem balanced; Cave writes the lyrics and co-writes the music, plays keyboards, and provides lead vocals—he's the clean-shaven face representing whichever collective he and Ellis are involved with (whether it be the Bad Seeds, Grinderman, or as a duo), while Ellis maintains a more peripheral presence. However, Ellis’s contributions extend far beyond simply being in the background, and perhaps one of the documentary’s underlying aims is to acknowledge his important role within the band—a recognition that Cave would undoubtedly support. Cave rejects the conventional rockstar persona; he presents himself as an unassuming intellectual who identifies primarily "as a person... As a husband, and father, and friend, and citizen that makes music and writes stuff," rather than prioritizing performance. Nevertheless, he remains a natural entertainer and a captivating storyteller. It’s remarkable that Cave hasn't visibly aged since 20,000 Days on Earth (I haven’t yet seen 2016’s One More Time with Feeling). He seems to have discovered the secret to eternal sinewy wiriness. Marianne Faithfull, in contrast, appears somewhat bloated and brittle, which isn't ideal, though her voice remains as rough—if not even more so—as ever. His restless spirit, animal magnetism, and seemingly limitless charisma remain fully intact. This Much... serves as a continuation of One More..., both directed by Andrew Dominik. While 20,000 Days... was guided by a different director with a distinct style (and is excellent in its own right), there's a clear evolution that can be traced back to that earlier film. In 20,000 Days..., Cave articulated a songwriting philosophy that shifted from the dionysian to the apollonian—moving from chaos and anarchy toward an aesthetically pleasing, though unconventional, organized structure. In This Much..., this creative process evolves into a broader perspective on life.

Source on TMDB