If you haven’t seen the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown in theaters, stop reading now—spoilers ahead. This is not movie review; it is my interpretation of a work of art.
If you’re planning to watch Timothée Chalamet’s remarkable performance and don’t mind sitting still for two hours and 21 minutes, I highly recommend a theater that serves food and drinks. You’ll have a blast—I did. I laughed, cried, got mad at Bob Dylan, and empathized with the women competing for his affection.
A Complete Unknown doesn’t hit you with an emotional rollercoaster but instead invites you to reflect on the complexities of life—relationships, fame, the American dream, and the importance of having mentors and good people around you.
Biopics based on real events are a refreshing break from Hollywood’s usual romcoms. Too often, romantic movies sell unrealistic narratives, setting unattainable expectations for relationships. Many of these scripts are written by women that create mythical, perfect male characters who don’t exist in real life. A Complete Unknown isn’t a romantic movie. While Bob Dylan’s love life takes center stage, the film’s portrayal is raw and real, showing the messiness of relationships between flawed individuals.
As an American pop culture prude, the film gave me space to imagine and later research the true stories behind the characters. Bob Dylan has been married twice, but the movie doesn’t mention his wives. Instead, it focuses on two main women in his life—Suze Rotolo, played by Elle Fanning, and Joan Baez, portrayed by the stunning Monica Barbaro.
Suze is Dylan’s long-term girlfriend; she feels like home to him. With her, he’s safe, comfortable, and grounded. Historically, Suze is credited with introducing Dylan to civil rights activism. Their relationship seems stable, but history tells us that stability rarely satisfies a creative soul. Enter Joan Baez.
Joan is Dylan’s mirror image—a woman who embodies his passion and pain. She’s as fiercely dedicated to her craft as him. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, but Joan’s commitment to her art makes her unattainable. Dylan has an affair with her, but she remains just out of reach.
Despite his connection with Joan, Dylan goes back to Suze, drawn to the nostalgia of stability and safety. It’s a familiar story: men often cling to what makes the most sense practically while holding onto the dream of a “perfect” woman in their hearts. Perhaps marrying that dream woman would shatter the fantasy that inspires them.
The film lays bare truths about men that are often hard to confront. For many, staying loyal to one woman requires a level of self-control that few possess. Men are often the protagonists of their own lives, prioritizing ambition over relationships.
Suze forgives Dylan’s infidelity, only to have her heart broken again. During a performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964, Dylan and Joan’s electric onstage connection while singing “It Ain’t Me, Babe” becomes unbearable for Suze. She leaves him for good this time.
Dylan is married to his craft. Everyone else is a supporting character. He doesn’t need a muse. The internet buzzes with speculation about Dylan possibly being on the autism spectrum, and watching Chalamet’s performance, it’s hard not to wonder. Throughout history, many geniuses have been neurodivergent, their unique perspectives sustaining their brilliance. The disability is the muse.
There is a scene in the film where after spending the night with Joan as they continue their toxic on and off relationship, Dylan wakes her in the middle of the night, completely oblivious as he writes a new song. He hums, sings, and scribbles lyrics, entirely consumed by his creative process, unaware of Joan sleeping nearby. She gets annoyed and finally realizes the hopelessness of the situation and kicks him out. She leaves him for good this time.
At its core, A Complete Unknown is the story of a regular man with extraordinary talent who moves to NYC to chase his dream. While Dylan became a folk music legend, the film reminds you of the countless gifted but unrecognized artists who walk the streets of NYC, each with their own story. I meet a lot of them all the time.
For many artists art often emerges from pain. It is the the wounded parts of our souls finding expression. A creation born from suffering has the power to transform the world. A child is born through labor; a diamond is perfected under pressure. Painful endings often usher in new beauty.
The movie underscores an uncomfortable truth: women are often more loyal in relationships than men. While men compartmentalize their emotions and focus on their ambitions, women tend to center their lives around relationships. Men love what they do, while women often prioritize the people they love. It is the curse from the book of Genesis.
In Dylan’s case, music is his true love. The women in his life, though significant, are secondary to his art.
Dylan is a legend.
Fariza 