Watch Looking Back On Love: Making Black And White America

Looking Back on Love: Making Black and White America is a documentary film released in 2013 that provides an intimate look at the making of Lenny Kravitz's album "Black and White America." The album was released in 2011 and marked a return for Kravitz to his funk roots, both musically and conceptually. The film follows Kravitz throughout the recording process, documenting the creation of the album's songs and the various collaborations that took place during that period.

Some of the key figures featured in the film include co-producer Craig Ross, who has worked with Kravitz for many years and played a vital role in the development of the new album's sound. A wide range of other musicians and friends of Kravitz also appear in the documentary, including Donna Allen, a longtime collaborator and backup singer, and Alex Alvarez and Jeff Ayeroff, two members of the team behind Kravitz's label, Roxie Records.

One of the main themes explored throughout the film is the cultural and social implications of Kravitz's music. Born to a white father and black mother, Kravitz has always occupied a unique space in the world of pop music. He has often been seen as transcending racial barriers in his music, and his work has been celebrated for its ability to bring people together across social divides.

Looking Back on Love explores this idea in depth, tracing the evolution of Kravitz's musical style and the way that it reflects his broader worldview. The film features interviews with Kravitz himself, in which he discusses his creative process and the ideas that inspired him during the making of Black and White America.

Another key element of the documentary is its focus on the collaborative process that went into making the album. Given that Kravitz is known for playing most of the instruments on his records himself, the new album marked a departure in that it featured a wide range of guest musicians, including Jay-Z, Drake, and Ledisi. The film features interviews with some of these artists, as well as footage of them working together in the studio.

Overall, Looking Back on Love provides a fascinating look into the world of Lenny Kravitz, revealing the complexities of his creative process and the ways in which his music reflects his personal beliefs and values. Through its exploration of the making of Black and White America, the documentary sheds light on the broader cultural and social implications of Kravitz's work, offering a compelling portrait of one of the most important musicians of his generation.

Looking Back On Love: Making Black And White America is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.