If you enjoy documentaries touching on musical performances that are not simply concert films, there are currently two very good movies in stores and for rent.

In his movie It Might Get Loud, Davis Guggenheim, who directed the environmental film An Inconvenient Truth, reminds of us that rock and roll can, and should be, about love of craftsmanship and a deep appreciation of music’s history, The film focuses on interviews with and the music of Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, The Edge of U2, and Jack White of The White Stripes. Representing three generations of gifted guitarists, they discuss how their love for the guitar grew from childhood and how they struggled in their early years to find not just success, but to make their own statement to add to the legacy of the blues and rock and roll. I have always felt that Jimmy Page has maintained the integrity of the legacy of his mighty band, and he comes across as having never lost his enthusiasm for his instrument and his favorite artists from the past. I was very surprised at how well Jack White handles himself in the presence of his great peers in Page and The Edge, and he holds his own during the jam sessions that they all enjoy together. I was also happy to learn about how The Edge crafts his unique sound through a system of very impressive gadgets and machinery.

This Is It is the documentary, put together by Kenny Ortega, of the late Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for what would have been his blockbuster concerts in London. If you thought that Michael Jackson was washed up and a shadow of his singing and dancing self, think again. Jackson sings beautifully and with emotion, and his performance is filled with wondrous dance moves. He is much beloved by his musicians, dancers, and Mr. Ortega, who directed the show. As a musician myself, I have been inspired by the pursuit of excellence by all involved in preparing Michael’s concert to raise the bar on how I record my own material. Simply put: I loved this film in the theater and it lends itself to repeated viewing on DVD.

The last couple of years also saw the re-release of two older films from Europe that are definitely worth seeing on DVD.

Bicycle Thieves is an Italian masterpiece made in 1948 by Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of an unemployed man (played by Lamberto Maggiorani) who is only able to secure work by gaining access to a bicycle, only to be robbed of it. The film follows this man’s pursuit of his lost bike through the poverty-stricken city in hopes of recovering his only chance for his livelihood. He is accompanied by his young son, played by the awe-inspiring Gino Saltamerenda. It is a powerful and deeply touching story, and filmed beautifully.

A Matter of Life and Death is a 1946 masterpiece made by the English filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who also made the classic film The Red Shoes. A Matter was called Stairway to Heaven in the United States, and I watched it repeatedly on television in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is great to see it now on DVD and it has lost none of its magic. The movie is about the travails of an air pilot during World War II, played magnificently by the suave David Niven, who should have perished in his crashing plane, but is lost in the fog by the heavenly messenger who was supposed to take him up to the next world. By the time this French messenger goes to gather up the pilot, Niven has fallen in love with an American woman working for the armed services in England (played by Kim Hunter) and he refuses to go to the next world, claiming a change of circumstances. All heaven and earth are affected by his refusal, and the ultimate trial up above is filmed in a surreal glow that leaves one in wonder. This is perhaps my favorite movie, and I hope more people take the time to see this incredible work of art.