Lady You Shot Me – Life And Death Of Sam Cooke

David Czarnetzki

Everybody knows his songs,
but few know his life

What really happened on 11 December 1964? “Lady You Shot Me – Life and Death of Sam Cooke” tells the story of the short yet influential life of Sam Cooke, one of the most important American artists of the 50s and 60s – one of the fathers of soul.

The documentary takes a close look at the mysterious circumstances surrounding Cooke’s violent death. Was he killed in self-defence – as officially claimed? Or was it murder, as his family, friends, and conspiracy theorists believe? Questions worth asking…

And while they ultimately remain unanswered, the film does a lot more than just scratch the surface. With his exploration of Sam Cooke’s death, director David Czarnetzki delves deep into the social context around the emergence of pop music, which Cooke defied more forcefully than any other black musician of his day.

Director: David Czarnetzki

Country: GER
Year: 2017
Duration: 95 minutes