_Life in 12 Bars_ is a fascinating book read in a monotone voice.

Don't get me wrong, the film is rich with history, most known, some not as well (a drunken, on-stage racist rant), some not at all (the story of Clapton's eldest daughter, Ruth). What I found less interesting was the style, or lack thereof, in the filmmaking.

Eric Clapton was a guitar God, yet his story is presented in a flat, mono-tone, similar to that of a 'VH1 Behind the Music' episode (though thank God there is no narrator). A little colour, a little pizazz, a little flair would've been welcome to liven up the long parade of facts.

Despite this shortcoming, the documentary is more than satisfactory, with loads of off-camera interviews that let the archival images speak for themselves. Although I was born 20 years after Clapton joined the Yardbirds and 15 after he left Cream, I am a fan of late 60s / early 70s rock and was like a kid in a blues store hearing his early work.

There was plenty of nostalgia to get into, like recordings of Jimi Hendrix riffing off Clapton in a club, Roger Waters talking about Clapton's influence, a video of Blind Faith doing "In the Presence of the Lord" live (!), and what is arguably the centerpiece of the film: a detailed explanation of how Clapton tried to seduce Pattie Boyd, the wife of his best friend (ex-Beatle George Harrison) with songs like 'Layla' and the entire self-titled Derek and the Dominoes double album. (Spoiler alert: Pattie is the only one who comes out of that debacle looking respectable.)

The film ends on a high note, with a fitting tribute from B. B. King. The toast Clapton's dear friend and major supporter makes on stage with Clapton standing in the wings put a lump in my throat and a drum beat in my heart.

[I should probably point out that this film was released in 2017 in the US, yet in January 2019 in France, where I saw it in the cinema.]