Shaun Keaveny sits in and interviews actor Timothée Chalamet and director James Mangold about their film, A Complete Unknown, which explores Bob Dylan's famous pivot from folk figurehead to rock original. This special episode of the Folk Show also digs into Dylan's back catalogue, which remains a touchstone for folk songwriters. The new film explores Dylan's talents and flaws as he establishes himself as a musical icon in the early 1960s.
Timothée plays Dylan and learned guitar to play the part. His co-stars include Edward Norton as Pete Seeger and Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. Shaun's interview covers Dylan's admiration for Woody Guthrie and the bolts of inspiration that defined Bob's early output, as well as Dylan's reasons for 'going electric' and performing with a band, a change that some fans wouldn't accept. James and Timothée also reflect on Bob's ability to sustain a career in relative privacy, and how it feels to win his approval.