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The Nomi Song

Play trailer Poster for The Nomi Song Released Jan 15, 2005 1h 39m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Bizarre, robotic, alien, outrageous, androgynous: all these words apply to 1980s German singer Klaus Nomi, the subject of this documentary. Nomi arrives in New York City with a background in German classical opera, which he channels into a strange but mesmerizing rock act quickly embraced by the avant garde and the punk scene. A cult develops around his performances, and he lands an appearance with David Bowie on TV. But, before his career can take off, tragedy strikes in the form of AIDS.
The Nomi Song

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Critics Consensus

A fascinating, if occasionally frustrating, documentary about Klaus Nomi, a cult figure in the New Wave Underground scene during the '80s.

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Critics Reviews

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Micco Caporale Chicago Reader The triumphs and loneliness of being a beautifully singular weirdo... Dec 18, 2023 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader The Nomi Song is pieced together from photos, performance footage, and talking-head interviews, but director Andew Horn has taken great care to fashion a strong story arc. Rated: 3/4 Jun 3, 2005 Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post Mostly fascinating, but occasionally frustrating. May 20, 2005 Full Review Chase Burns The Stranger (Seattle, WA) The Nomi Song features a lot-too many-talking heads, but it's saved by the fact that it's one of the too-few documentaries on German experimental vocalist Klaus Nomi. Jan 20, 2022 Full Review Jean-François Vandeuren Panorama Un documentaire qui rend justice à un personnage fascinant, mais dont on aurait tout de même voulu en savoir davantage Rated: 7/10 Aug 11, 2005 Full Review Bill Gibron DVD Verdict While he was never a Top 40 hitmaker, Klaus Nomi was an important artist...and The Nomi Song is a cinematic anthem to his unorthodox individuality. Rated: 90/100 Jul 31, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Interesting character study. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful film. Every fan of the late, great Klaus Nomi should give this a watch. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member A well-made documentary on one of the very boldest performers of the 20th century. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Hearing Klaus Nomi for the first time is one of those moments you'll never forget (thank you to Paolo for introducing me last month). That the story of his life is from step-to-step compiled by a series of these "a-ha" moments, adds so much extra gravity to how tragically short his life was cut by AIDS. Legendary, without a doubt. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Documentaire touchant sur un Personnage deroutant, un Artiste Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Klaus Nomi was entirely ahead of his time. His aesthetic, his sotry, and his music were all far beyond what anybody was doing at the time and still more modern than much of the music now. This documentary went into some amazing detail about Klaus. Solid film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Nomi Song

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Horn

Director

Joesph Arias

Self

Calvin Churchman

Self

Tony Frere

Self

Michael Halsband

Self

Kristian Hoffman

Self

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The Nomi Song

Klaus Nomi with a futuristic ray gun in THE NOMI SONG, a film by Andrew Horn, a Palm Pictures release. Klaus Nomi applies stage make-up before a show in THE NOMI SONG, a film by Andrew Horn, a Palm Pictures release. Klaus Nomi is profiled in THE NOMI SONG, a film by Andrew Horn, a Palm Pictures release. New wave performance artist, Klaus Nomi on stage in THE NOMI SONG, a film by Andrew Horn, a Palm Pictures release. Klaus Nomi on the streets of New York in THE NOMI SONG, a film by Andrew Horn, a Palm Pictures release. Klaus Nomi in THE NOMI SONG, a film by Andrew Horn, a Palm Pictures release. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Bizarre, robotic, alien, outrageous, androgynous: all these words apply to 1980s German singer Klaus Nomi, the subject of this documentary. Nomi arrives in New York City with a background in German classical opera, which he channels into a strange but mesmerizing rock act quickly embraced by the avant garde and the punk scene. A cult develops around his performances, and he lands an appearance with David Bowie on TV. But, before his career can take off, tragedy strikes in the form of AIDS.
Director
Andrew Horn
Producer
Andrew Horn, Annette Pisacane, Thomas Mertens, Anne Even
Screenwriter
Andrew Horn
Distributor
Palm Pictures
Production Co
Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Arte, Cameo Filmproduktion, CV Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 15, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 17, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$74.2K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)