Catching Fire - The Story of Anita Pallenberg

Catching Fire - The Story of Anita Pallenberg

Catching Fire - The Story of Anita Pallenberg (available from Magnolia Pictures) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Anita Pallenberg was a German actress and fashion model, but she’s best remembered in Rock’n’Roll legend and lore as the sexy chanteuse who made her way to The Rolling Stones’ inner circle via liaisons with guitarists Brian Jones and Keith Richards. While acquiring a reputation as one of the so-called ‘It Girls’ during the 1960s and ‘70s, it was her relationships with The Stones, and the role she played in driving a wedge between Jones and Richards, that accounted for her decided notoriety. .
 
She would have three children by Richards, and in the process, she was credited with taming his wild reputation. On the other hand, the pair were the epitome of an outlaw couple, and given the fact that Keith Richards was so quickly smitten, her name will forever be associated with the band’s lingering legacy.
 
That said, little is known about Anita Pallenberg’s personal life outside of The Stones’ entourage. Consequently, Catching Fire offers added insights into her captivating career and the connections she made while frolicking amongst the trendsetters within London’s swinging scene during the ‘60s and ‘70s. The documentary features an impressive array of interviews with friends and fellow travelers, but it’s the rarely seen footage of Wallenberg herself that inevitably sparks the most interest. And indeed, anyone with even a passing interest in that storied period ought to find the film of interest.
 
While the film does a thorough job of retracing Pallenberg’s life story from childhood through her career, it’s those episodes involving her association with The Stones that will likely be of most interest. For example, she made headlines when, during the infamous drug bust at Richards’ Redlands home, she traipsed downstairs wrapped only in a rug. So too, her excursion to Morocco with Brian Jones widened the riff between the two guitarists when she was forced to end their relationship after he allegedly became violent and beat her, only to have Richards come to her rescue.
 
Catching Fire is, as its title implies, a red-hot look back at a time and place where sex and excess went hand in glove. Although Anita Pallenberg passed away in 2017, the film ensures the fact that her legend will live on. (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
 
View and buy the film Catching Fire – The Story of Anita Pallenberg from AMAZON
 
Visit the Magnolia Films website for more information