DIRECTOR: Margaret Brown
PRODUCERS: Sam Brumbaugh / Margaret Brown

CAST
Townes Van Zandt, Willy Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earl

SYNOPSIS
Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt provides an intimate portrait of the legendary artist's haunting music and life. Although a native Texan, Van Zandt always viewed himself as a traveller. His father, a wealthy oil man, moved the family constantly which accounted for Townes' ongoing sense of restlessness.

However, a more tragic influence on Towne's music came later in his life when, labeled as a problem child, he was given shock therapy in his early 20's after he fell backward from a four-story window 'just to see what it felt like'.This treatment burned out all of his memories of childhood and made it difficult for him to connect to those around him for any length of time. Arguably it was this disconnect from the sources of his most deeply-held emotions that gave his songs their melancholy, redemptive power.

The ultimate songwriter's songwriter, Townes Van Zandt had a profound impact on generations of musicians from Bob Dylan to Norah Jones, yet he avoided the commercial success enjoyed by many of his own fans. Legendary songwriter Billy Joe Shaver says 'As far as I was concerned, he was the best songwriter that ever lived. And that's it.' Lucinda Williams called him 'Too Cool to be Forgotten.' And Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris have had #1 hits with his songs.

This haunting and lyrical film combines interviews with friends and family with never seen footage of Townes Van Zandt, from rare performance and interview footage to intimate portraits shot in Van Zandt's own home throughout the years. It also includes appearances by many famous musicians, including Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris.