American music legend Bob Dylan (C) performs on stage during his concert in Shanghai on April 8, 2011. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)
American music legend Bob Dylan (C) performs on stage during his concert in Shanghai on April 8, 2011. (Photo by Philippe LOPEZ / AFP)

Where is Bob Dylan? ¡Everywhere!

Timothée Chalamet's nomination for Bob Dylan's role reminds us of the near omnipresence of a living legend of American art.

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Timothée Chalamet, nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in the film "A Complete Unknown," has once again captured the attention of audiences and critics. All indications are that his performance in this challenge was very good and that earned him a spot on the list of Oscar contenders.

But if Chalamet's career has been prolific in the seventh art, the same can be said of Bob Dylan, a living legend of American culture. Dylan is not only a musician, painter and writer. Dylan has also been a film figure.

Bob Dylan, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016, has been a protagonist and recurring theme in cinema for decades. His influence is reflected in both documentaries and fiction films, which explore different facets of his life and artistic legacy.

One of the first approaches to the cinematic Dylan was "Don't Look Back" (1967), a documentary directed by D.A. Pennebaker. This work captures Dylan's tour of the United Kingdom in 1965 and offers an intimate view of his personality and his relationship with fame. Considered a classic of documentary filmmaking, the film was a landmark in showing an honest and straightforward portrait of the artist in his time of transition from folk to rock. Pennebaker is also a legend of the seventh art and received an honorary Oscar in 2012.

Another key moment in Dylan's film career was "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973), directed by Sam Peckinpah. Although Dylan is not the protagonist, his participation as an actor and composer of the soundtrack expanded his presence in film. The song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", part of the soundtrack, became one of his most recognized songs worldwide.

In 2007, "I'm Not There" presented a unique approach to Dylan's life and work from a fragmented perspective. Directed by Todd Haynes, the film assigns different actors to play Dylan at various stages of his career, including Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. This approach highlights the multiplicity of identities Dylan has assumed throughout his career.

Recent documentaries have also contributed to enrich the portrait of Dylan. "No Direction Home" (2005), directed by Martin Scorsese, focuses on his early career and his transition to electric rock, a moment that generated controversy among his fans. Scorsese revisited Dylan in "Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story" (2019), a documentary that follows the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour.

Cinema has also found Dylan a source of indirect inspiration. Films such as "Inside Llewyn Davis" (2013), directed by the Coen brothers, portray the Greenwich Village music scene in the 1960s, a context in which Dylan emerged as a key figure. Dylan's finessed appearance is fleeting and at a significant moment in the film. No spoilers.

Chalamet's nomination for "A Complete Unknown" brings to the forefront a new interpretation of Dylan, this time focusing on his youth and his transition to fame. The film, directed by James Mangold, focuses on Dylan's early years as a musician in New York, a period marked by the creation of songs that would define his legacy.

Dylan has maintained an ambivalent relationship with the media, which has contributed to his enigmatic aura. His presence in film, whether as a direct subject or as an influence, reflects that he is a permanent presence in modern art. Filmmakers who have tackled his story have faced the challenge of capturing the essence of an artist in constant transformation.

With each new cinematic work, Dylan consolidates himself as the great music legend who has been able to enjoy this mythical status while still alive. With him it is not only about music or literature; the seventh art has also surrendered to the feet of one of the emblematic figures of American pop culture.

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