The Lantern

Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: Arts

AUSTIN, Texas - The line outside the Paramount Theatre stretched for an entire block, only providing a minor shield from the pouring rain to a few movie-goers eager to enter the theater. "Last Days of Left Eye" is one of many films to make its premier at SXSW, but one of a handful of music documentaries.

The film directed by Lauren Lazin - also responsible for helming the Academy-Award nominated, "Tupac: Resurrection" - follows the outspoken Lisa Lopes, known for being one-third of the best-selling female R&B group of all time, TLC, as she embarked on a 30-day spiritual retreat in the jungles of Honduras.

Lopes shares intimate details of her life, including growing up under the rule of a strict military father who didn't allow her to date, but allowed her to drink at an early age, an account of the infamous arson case and her feelings toward the meteoric rise of TLC.

The majority of the footage was shot by Lopes in the village she only referred to as the "bush." Along with her brother, sister and girl-group protégé Egypt, they dieted on fruit and herbs and practiced yoga. Lopes remained open and frank during the film, making it easy to see why she was the outspoken force behind the group.

The film painted an eerie portrait of the superstar. She believed spirits were trying to kill her and blamed herself when a small child jumped in front of the van she was riding in, killing him. Lopes believed the spirits made a mistake, and in a strange coincidence the boy happened to share the same last name as Lopes.

Her life was cut short 26 days into the retreat in a scene sure to haunt movie-goers well after the credits roll. Leaving the footage in was a decision both Lazin and Reigndrop Lopes, Lisa's sister, said was hard but essential.

"At first our mother was against (using the footage), but I always wanted it in there. The whole purpose of Lisa taping the documentary was for the fans to gain insight into her life. She would've wanted it in there," Reigndrop said. According to Reigndrop, the other members of TLC weren't interviewed for the film but were happy about the outcome and signed off for its release.

Lazin said she became attached to the project after being referred by the Shakur family and had only spoken to Lopes once and it was about the late rapper.

"One thing that stuck with me from that conversation is that Lisa said she wouldn't be surprised if she died early," Lazin said.

Lopes didn't fear death, nor did she believe in it. She believed death was a form of transformation. Seeing the superstar spiritually cleanse herself and lay nude in the jungle with the water flowing around her was remarkable. She was in search of peace and happiness, that hopefully her new life has brought her.

As the rain fell down on the Paramount Theatre Lasik said Lopes would've loved that the film premiered on a rainy day. In what could be chopped up as a weird coincidence or twist of fate the rain ended once the film did.

Gerrick Lewis can be reached at lewis.1030@osu.edu.

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