Watch My Father and the Man in Black

My Father and the Man in Black is a documentary film released in 2012, directed and produced by Jonathan Holiff. It tells the story of Saul Holiff, the former manager of legendary country singer Johnny Cash, and his complex relationship with Cash. The film is a personal exploration of Saul Holiff's life, his struggles as a manager, his strained relationship with his own father and his eventual suicide.

The story of My Father and the Man in Black revolves around the letters and audio diaries left behind by Saul Holiff, who died in 2005. These artefacts became the jumping off point for his son, Jonathan Holiff, to delve into his father’s past and the complex relationship he had with Cash. The documentary is deeply personal, with Jonathan using the footage and audio recordings to explore his father's character and the challenges he faced in managing Cash's career.

The film is structured around three distinct parts. The first part deals with Saul Holiff's early career as a music promoter in Canada before moving to the United States. The second part documents his time as Cash's manager and the personal and professional struggles this entailed. The final part deals with Saul's life after leaving the music industry and his eventual suicide.

The film begins with a series of interviews with family members, friends and colleagues of Saul Holiff, who provide an insight into his early life and career. Using footage, photographs and voice recordings, Jonathan Holiff pieces together his father's early years as a music promoter in Canada. He talks to friends who describe Saul as hardworking and ambitious, but also as a man who struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life.

The second part of the film documents Saul Holiff's time as Cash's manager - a period of immense success, but also one marked by tension and struggle. The documentary takes an unflinching look at Cash's battle with drugs and alcohol and the toll it took on his personal and professional relationships. It also examines Saul's own struggles as a manager, including his clashes with Cash over creative control, finances and personal decisions.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is the relationship between Saul Holiff and Johnny Cash. The two men had a complex and often fraught relationship, marked by both respect and distance. The film uses rarely seen footage and audio recordings to document this fascinating relationship, as well as the moments of tension and conflict between the two men.

The final part of the film deals with Saul Holiff's life after leaving the music industry. It explores his struggles with depression and anxiety, and his eventual decision to take his own life. This is a deeply personal and emotional section of the film, and Jonathan Holiff's interviews with family members and friends provide a moving insight into the impact of Saul's death on those who knew and loved him.

Overall, My Father and the Man in Black is a fascinating and deeply personal exploration of one man's life and the complex relationships that defined it. The documentary is expertly crafted, using a combination of interviews, archival footage and audio recordings to create a powerful and moving portrait of Saul Holiff, Johnny Cash and the music industry of the 1960s and 1970s. It is a must-see for fans of Johnny Cash and anyone with an interest in the history of the music industry.

My Father and the Man in Black is a 2013 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 57.