Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck 2015

After Kurt Cobain is born in 1967, his family relocates to Aberdeen, Washington, just after the arrival of his sister, Kim. During his early years, Kurt experiences an otherwise typical childhood, though his father, Don, often picks on him. At the tender age of nine, his parents’ relationship crumbles, leading to a painful divorce. For some time, Kurt stays with his father until Don remarries Jenny Westeby, bringing additional siblings into the mix. Eventually, he returns to live with his mother, but as a teenager, he rebels and begins experimenting with marijuana alongside his friends.

In a risky turn, he and his mates start frequenting the home of a developmentally challenged classmate to steal her father’s alcohol. This challenging phase weighs heavily on young Cobain, planting the seeds of suicidal thoughts. His distress intensifies after an attempt to engage intimately with the girl ends in cruel taunts from his peers. Unable to cope with the humiliation, he seeks escape by lying on train tracks, intending to end his life. Fortunately, fate intervenes as the train takes a different route, sparing him from tragedy.

Eventually, Kurt finds himself without a home, crashing at friends’ places until he manages to secure his own living space at 17. It is here that he joins forces with Krist Novoselic to form a band, which soon welcomes Chad Channing as its drummer. Naming themselves “Nirvana,” the band starts off with casual performances for friends and random bystanders at house gatherings. As their reputation grows, they transition to local clubs and radio appearances, while Kurt embarks on a relationship with Tracy Marander.

The band signs with Sub Pop records, releasing their debut album, Bleach, which leads to interviews and tours. However, Kurt’s personal life begins to shift as he parts ways with Tracy and Chad exits the group. Nirvana transitions to DGC Records, bringing Dave Grohl into the fold as their new drummer.

With the release of their second album, Nevermind, the band catapults to mainstream fame powered by the anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” During this whirlwind, Kurt meets Courtney Love, initiating a relationship that quickly escalates to marriage in 1992 after the revelation of Courtney’s pregnancy. Their happiness is shortly overshadowed by Kurt’s escalating heroin addiction. In a controversial interview with Vanity Fair, Courtney reveals Kurt’s struggle with drugs, inadvertently becoming a subject of scrutiny as an article misrepresents Courtney’s own drug use, implicating their capability as parents.

After the birth of their daughter Frances, the couple faces legal challenges when the Los Angeles County Department of Children’s Services questions their parenting due to their drug use. The situation intensifies, resulting in a temporary custody loss, but they eventually regain full custody following various legal agreements to maintain sobriety and undergo regular drug testing.

As Nirvana records their next album, In Utero, in 1993, the toll of Kurt’s addiction becomes evident. With Pat Smear joining the group, the band embarks on arena tours, but Kurt’s health declines significantly due to withdrawal symptoms. After a particularly challenging tour, he flies to Rome for medical treatment, where Courtney joins him.

Tragedy strikes on March 3, 1994, when Courtney wakes to find Kurt has overdosed on a lethal combination of drugs. His hospital stay lasts five days, after which he returns to Seattle with renewed hope.

However, the narrative takes a dark turn—one month after returning from Rome, a stark black screen reveals a solemn truth: “Kurt Cobain took his own life. He was 27 years old.” As the credits roll, the weight of his story lingers in the air.