# George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)

> A two-part HBO documentary portrait of George Harrison that looks past his Beatles fame to the artist within, told through archive footage and reflections from the people who knew him best.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/39336

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 2
- Episode runtime: 114 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary, music
- Network: HBO
- Cast: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Klaus Voormann, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Astrid Kirchherr, Pattie Boyd, Dhani Harrison
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1113829/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: reflective, affectionate, contemplative, nostalgic

## What critics say

Critics broadly acclaim this HBO documentary portrait for its intimate access to George Harrison's life and its illumination of his spiritual and musical journey beyond The Beatles.

## Synopsis

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011) is a two-episode American documentary miniseries created for HBO, a biographical portrait of the guitarist and songwriter who was part of The Beatles. Rather than retelling the band's story, the series concentrates on Harrison himself, following his path from a young musician in Liverpool to a solo artist searching for meaning beyond fame. The engine of the film is the tension between public stardom and private seeking, traced through archive footage and new interviews. Former bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appear as themselves alongside Eric Clapton, producer George Martin, and longtime friend Klaus Voormann, each offering recollections that deepen the portrait. Pattie Boyd and Astrid Kirchherr add personal perspectives on his life and early years. The two episodes, each running about two hours, form a single continuous portrait rather than a case-of-the-week format. Produced with a reflective, affectionate register, the documentary moves through memory, music, and faith with a contemplative pace. Fans of Beatles Anthology, Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues, and Festival Express will find resonance in its blend of archival music history and intimate testimony.

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