A Complete Unknownhas officially become one of the year’s most talked-about films.James Mangold’s masterful take on the life ofBob Dylan—portrayed byTimothée Chalamet—has not only reachednew heights for a musical biopic; it has garnered theall-important award buzz. But the real standout of the picture isn’t Chalamet’s take on Dylan but his muse, asElle Fanning’s Sylvie Russo is more than just a fascinating character. In a worldfilled with eccentric characters, Russo acts as a beautiful proxy for the audience,helping moviegoers care for Dylan beyond the musician they already know,as they watch his rise to stardom. However, unlike many of the other characters the “Like a Rolling Stone” singer encounters throughout, Sylvie is technically fictional. Butshe was inspired by an incredibly important force in Dylan’s lifeand left an incredible legacy of her own behind.
Sylvie Russo Was Inspired by Dylan’s Real-Life Muse
Like most biopics,A Complete Unknowntakesquite a few libertieswith Dylan’s story.While Sylvie is technically one such modification, she isn’t as fictional as many think. PerRolling Stone, the character ofSylvie was inspired by Suze Rotolo,an Italian-American artist whom Dylan first met in 1961 and who was a force to be reckoned with. Rotolo, a New Yorker from birth, moved to Greenwich Village to find herself. “[…] it was to Greenwich Village that people like me went—people who knew in their souls thatthey didn’t belong where they came from,”Rolling Stone quoted.“I was drawn to the Village with its history of bohemia—where the writers I was reading and the artists I was looking at had lived or passed through.”
‘A Complete Unknown’ Is Knock-Knock-Knocking on the Door of an Elite Global Box Office List
Produced on a reported budget of $70 million, the Bob Dylan biopic has earned positive reviews.
Much like her movie counterpart,Rotolo became Dylan’s muse—in one ofthe film’s more accurate sequences, Dylan met Rotolo when he performed in an all-day concert at Riverside Church. Rolling Stone claims she inspired “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” as well as much of his work, even famously appearing with Dylan on the iconic cover of 1963’sThe Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. But music and art weren’t the only things Rotolo inspired in Dylan’s life;as with Fanning’s fictional take, Rotolo was heavily involved in various social movements.According to Forbes, she was suspended from school after distributing “Stop the bomb” petitions and participated in the first-ever Civil Rights march in Washington, D.C. As stated by Rolling Stone,she got Dylan interested in civil rightsafter turning his attention tothe murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till,which, of course, inspired his song on the subject.Sadly, the couple would part ways in 1964;however, they continued to speak of each other fondly in later years. Perhaps most telling wasDylan’s decision on how to handle her storywhen it came toA Complete Unknown.
Bob Dylan Wanted To Change Rotolo’s Name For ‘A Complete Unknown’
When it came time to start makingA Complete Unknown,Bob Dylan himself had a very specific requestfordirector James Mangold. The two had been through quite a lot together, including an abortion, as well as an extended distance when Rotolo went on an eight-month trip to Italy,yet Rotolo’s life was kept largely private.“It was a character who I felt—and I think Bob very much agreed when we talked early on—was the only one who wasn’t a celebrity and an icon in and of themselves with a kind of public persona,” Mangold reflected. Sadly, Rotolo passed away in February 2011, thusthe decision to change her name for the movie was likely the right one.Still, the film completely honors Rotolo’s legacy.
Russo is an easy character to fall in love with and is key to craftingthe film’s gorgeous romance. It additionally honors the amazing work she did for people all around the world. Rotolo involved herself in some of the most meaningful causes of all time and helped bring them into the public consciousness through Dylan—a sort of legacy that cannot be understated.Sylvie Russo may be a creative liberty of sorts, but the legacy of Suze Rotolo lives on through her, through the music she inspired, the art she created, and the love she brought to the world.
A Complete Unknownis now playing in theaters across the U.S.
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown: Set in the vibrant New York music scene of the early 1960s, the film follows the journey of 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan. It captures his rapid ascent from a budding folk singer to a prominent figure in concert halls and on the charts, highlighting his impact on the music world.
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