This was the Beatles Museum’s
first Film Club Event and featured an exclusive screening Borrowed Time:
Lennon's Last Decade (2025), prior to which was a short Q & A session with Director,
Alan G. Parker who delivered insights into the filming and production of the
film. Lennon is lauded as one of music’s most influential legends and the film
draws on archive footage, interviews and contemporary accounts to examine
Lennon’s musical creative output, personal life and legacy after the
disbandment of The Beatles.
Borrowed Time: Lennon's Last Decade (2025) was
released in cinemas on 2nd May 2025. It takes its title from a song from Lennon
and Yoko Ono's last album, ‘Milk and Honey’. The single was released in March 1984 and failed
to chart in the USA; it charted at number 32 in the UK Singles Chart, the
B-side features Ono's song ‘Your Hands’ from the same album, which failed to
chart.
The song was inspired during
Lennon's 1980’s sailing holiday from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda when
during a lengthy and severe storm most of the crew were taken ill with
seasickness. Lennon was not affected and was forced to take over on the yacht's
wheel, being alone for many hours. Although terrified by his ordeal, it brought
home to him the fragility of life. Upon arrival in Bermuda, Lennon heard the
line 'living on borrowed time' from Bunny Wailer's ‘Hallelujah Time’ and was
stimulated by his sailing experience to write the lyrics around that theme.
Wailer was also the inspiration for the reggae style of the music. Lennon
commented that living on borrowed time was exactly what he was doing
‘Borrowed Time’ concentrates on
Lennon’s post-Beatles career, his involvement in political activism and his
lived life experiences in 1970’s post his Fab Four Beatles fame. It covers the
whole period from Lennon’s arrival in New York right through the decade, the
solo albums, quarrels with Paul, protests, interviews, joint ventures with
Yoko, the struggle to get a green card, the ‘lost weekend’ with May Pang, and
finally his murder at the time he was planning an ambitious new global tour.
It includes rare archive footage with talking
heads interviews, for example with guitarist Earl Slick, Beatles-expert
veterans like Ray Connolly and Philip Norman who offer their reminiscences,
along with broadcasters Andy Peebles, Bob Harris and Tony Palmer and covers his
1975-1980, ‘retirement’. It investigates
Lennon's life after The Beatles, covering his ‘househusband’ era (when everyone
was led to believe he was at home alone caring for baby Sean, but in fact we
were told in the film Yoko had a house full of staff who cooked and cleaned
etc..), his involvement in US politics and his FBI difficulties. It is
commended for being a deeply personal and genuine study of his final last ten
years of his life rather than being a glossy tribute.
For Beatles and Lennon devotees,
this film provides reverential reminiscences of a musical genius and the
challenges he faced post Beatles fame. Tragically, the film depicts how Lennon
was coming to terms with his life and was in his prime artistically, writing
new music which was acclaimed by his fans and contemporaries.
It was a full house but disappointedly
the event started nearly one hour later than the advertised time with no
explanation as to the reason why. Consequently,
the Q & A with Director, Alan G. Parker conducted by Roag Best was rather
short. There is a bar available for drinks and snacks, and the room holds
approximately 100 people although the seating is basic and tightly packed.
For visitors to Liverpool, the
Liverpool Beatles Museum on Mathew Street is a gem and is highly recommended;
it is a warren of artifacts, souvenirs and Beatles nostalgia and often features
‘exclusive’ screenings such as this. The Film Club is a new enterprise. The museum
also houses the Liverpool Legends Hall of Fame which is well worth a visit to admire
the many well-known celebrities and musicians who have hailed from Liverpool,
some of which may come as a surprise.
For tickets for the Beatles Museum (Admission currently £20
pp) see https://liverpoolbeatlesmuseum.com
Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade
was released in cinemas on 2nd May 202, Cert. 12A running time134 mins.
Borrowed Time: Lennon’s Last Decade may be accessed via YouTube
see link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxHcpxbYrfE&t=4s
Reviewer: Anne Pritchard
On: 28th February 2026
