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Documentarian Amy Berg has tackled powerful subjects before — from clergy abuse to the West Memphis Three — but this time, she’s turned her lens on one of music’s most luminous and elusive figures: Jeff Buckley. In a conversation with Kyle Meredith, Berg opens up about It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, a documentary that traces the short, brilliant life of the Grace singer through rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and a narrative woven with personal depth. It’s a project that took over a decade to come together, and one that goes beyond the myth to reveal a complicated, driven, and beautifully human artist. Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
“There’s only going to be one time this is going to happen,” Berg explains, referencing the trust it took for Buckley’s mother Mary Guibert to allow the project to move forward. “I’ve wanted final cut since 2009, and she just finally felt ready.” The result is a film shaped just as much by vulnerability as by sound. Buckley’s infamous self-doubt, perfectionism, and emotional openness are front and center. “He knew he was great, but he didn’t really accept that he was great,” Berg says. “He was hard on himself because it had to be perfect.” The documentary dives deep into his relationships — not just with family or lovers, but with his gift, which Berg calls his greatest challenge.
The film also reveals how ahead of his time Buckley was, particularly in the way he expressed masculinity and aligned himself with feminist ideals. “There’s an interview from 1995 where he’s speaking the same feminist language that women at the Women’s March were using decades later,” Berg says. “It was only cool to like Jeff Buckley if you were a girl or gay back then, and now it feels like men are empowered to be emotional because of him.”
The conversation also touched on Buckley’s kindred connection with Chris Cornell — another powerhouse vocalist who blurred the lines between vulnerability and intensity. “Some singers become method actors when they perform,” Berg notes, recalling a recent interview she did with Euphoria Morning producer Alain Johannes. “That’s what Jeff did, and that’s what Chris did, too.” She also reveals that her next documentary will focus on Cornell, making It’s Never Over feel like the first part of a larger conversation.
Bonus footage and even a possible Buckley biopic may follow, but for now, this film stands as a haunting, graceful tribute to an artist who never stopped feeling. Listen to Amy Berg talk about It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, and more in the new episode above or by watching the video below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.
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