Join Ani DiFranco, her band, and members of the extended Righteous Babe family as they crisscross the country in this long-awaited, one-of-a-kind portrait of the Li'l Folksinger at work. Videographers spent years on Ani's trail, capturing her onstage, in the studio, and on the tour bus--footage which Ani herself shaped into a very personal self-portrait. The resulting movie, which draws on material from as far back as 1997, focuses on her 2000 and 2001 tours. This impressionistic collage takes you way behind the scenes; you'll watch a new song take shape and learn the stories behind some favorite older ones. Over two dozen songs are featured, including two brand new Ani songs and previously unreleased live versions of many of her classics. As dynamic, thought-provoking, and fun as one of her concerts, Render gives you a sneak peek into Ani's life and music in her own words, on her own terms. It's a visual live album, it's a road film, it's an art flick, it's a document of a movement in time.

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With Render, Ani Difranco takes you into what she experiences by touring with her band. You see her extended family, and you see her diligent work ethic and devotion to her craft. It's a film showcasing her and her beliefs, so if people cannot accept that, then they shouldn't have bought the DVD in the first place. After all, the DVD says directly Spanning Time with Ani Difranco, not Ani Difranco live in Concert (although I would be excited if she ever decided to release a DVD of that stature).

Also, I personally like most of the songs on the DVD, to the person that called them B-Sides. In fact, My IQ is one of my favorite poems by her, and Overlap is one of my favorite songs. Besides, the most important thing about this DVD is the overall impression, which I think is shown very well. Regardless of wehether or not you agree with her politics, this DVD shows them well researched and in a manner that is obviously just her voicing her opinion based on the things she's learned. To the person who said "why does she say don't judge people for their worst moment in their lives." I didn't see you complaining about the song "Fuel" on Little Plastic Castle, so I don't know why you're suprised she's against capital punishment. You get to get inside the mind of Ani Difranco, a compelling mind at that.

And while I don't agree with her not liking people to sing along at her shows, if you've been to her shows the people sometimes get out of hand and distracting. She's not a popstar, she's a folk singer so we don't want to see her dance and put on a circus like extravaganza. We want to hear her play, therefore Ani is valid for not wanting distractions so that she can do her best job live. I've seen her twice; she doesn't disappoint!

13 of 15 found the following review helpful:

It's Why We Love Her!Aug 03, 2002
By Darren Dullabaun
Fans of Ani Difranco know that her art is a moving target and therefore a simple live concert video, though highly satisfying, would have fallen short of the promise that the title of her latest masterpiece puts forth.

"Render - Spanning Time with Ani Difranco" is exactly what we want: a glimpse into her world that adds color and depth to the stories and emotions expressed in her music. In it we are treated to real life moments and given a sense of the camaraderie between the artist, her band and especially, her fans.

This is demonstrated best when, during a live performance of her song "Dilate," she stops and respectfully requests the fans not sing along. After the song's completion she takes the time to explain why she made the request. Artists rarely display such confidence in their audience and she is rewarded for her willingness to take such a risk: the fans love her even more for it.

"Render" also shows us some of the behind the scenes activities of her record label, road crew and includes a sequence documenting the editing and mixing process in the recording studio.

Not to mention some potent interview scenes where Ani lays down some of her views of America. At a time when we are being sold a party line that we are all in it together, she steps up and points out the many ways in which our society has become frayed and that we have strayed from the promise of our roots. And in so doing, she challenges us to change it.

It's a winner all around and it's why we love her!

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:

in defense of aniJun 08, 2005
By faeriechyld
i don't normally write reviews, but i think people are being very unfair about "render..."

i bought this dvd because an old friend once said "this woman is incredible" & sent me a cassette of difranco's "living in clip." i was amazed. she had an energy i had never felt before, her lyrics were intense & she didn't shy away from topics that are considered taboo like so many other writers trying to keep an audience. her honesty & just plain raw skill amazed me from the start, so i had to see her live when she was in town. again, i was blown away. since then i've bought at least 10 of her cd's, & the trust dvd is on the list next. i watch "render" at least once a month & every time find something that i didnt notice before that makes it strictly an ani experience. if you go in expecting a concert disc, you will be disappointed. but if you go into it wanting to learn something about her as a person, performer, & political activist, as well as the people behind her that put so much into the experience in the background, then watch this. overall it's definitely worth seeing, & the songs are great (overlap is my favorite, followed by my iq, & the song with sekou sundiata a close 3rd.) definitely one of my favorite ani experiences.

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