These 7 moments from A Complete Unknown are really hard to forget

A Complete Unknown encapsulates the early life of Bob Dylan, played by Timothée Chalamet, who had just been introduced to the New York Folk scene. The film follows his journey from meeting his idol, Woody Guthrie, to becoming one of the most popular musicians, but feeling trapped as a young musician.

He later gets out of the box when he dares to play the electric guitar during the Folk Festival, causing an uproar from the audience. The film has real and fictional moments created for the narration and introduces the young musician who ended up changing so much about music and songwriting, and became a pop culture icon. Here’s a list that consists of 7 unforgettable moments from A Complete Unknown that shaped Dylan’s life.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

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7 moments from A Complete Unknown are really hard to forget

7) Bob Dylan impresses Woody Guthrie and Seeger

Bob meeting Woody for the first time in A Complete Unknown was one of the iconic scenes. He came to New York after finding out he was in the hospital and wanted to meet his idol once. He ended up playing a song for him after Pete Seeger asked him to sing, as Woody wanted to hear some of his music.

Although a lighthearted scene, made by Woody and Pete’s humor, the atmosphere changes when Bob sings an original song he had written for Woody called Song to Woody. With just one song, he impresses both Pete and Woody, who watch him dotingly.

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6) Bobby’s first open mic

After being impressed by his music when he played for Woody at the beginning of A Complete Unknown, Pete takes him to his home and introduces him to New York’s folk music. He also introduces him during an open mic event attended by various executives and important people in the industry.

Although unknown, Bobby impresses the people with his original song and his unscripted flirting with Baez. This performance helps him further as he gets signed by Albert Grossman and begins working on his first album.

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5) Sylvie encourages Dylan to record his music

While their relationship might not be doing well in A Complete Unknown, Sylvie still respected Dylan’s music and often encouraged him to record his own songs rather than cover songs. Sylvie, early on, realizes that their relationship might not work due to Dylan not being honest about himself to her, which causes a rift between them.

The scene also gives a glimpse of one of Bob’s famous songs, Don’t Think Twice, as he works up the chords before they get into the argument. These little dramatized moments made the scene more impactful and unforgettable.

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4) The iconic breakup song

The breakup song that Baez and Dylan sang together, called It Ain’t Me Babe, is one of the highlights of A Complete Unknown. The performance was a pivotal moment for Bob, Baez, and, most importantly, Sylvie.

Sylvie attends the festival in hopes of rekindling her relationship with Bobby, but upon seeing the chemistry between Baez and Dylan, she realizes that their relationship can never be what she wants it to be. This performance marks the end of Sylvie and Dylan’s relationship as she gives up all hope of their future together.

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3) Dylan performing with an electric guitar at the Newport festival

This controversial moment was one of the highlights of Bob Dylan’s musical career and his biopic A Complete Unknown. His sticking to his plan of playing the electric guitar at the Newport folk festival was not just Dylan being a young rebel, but also trying to take back the reins of his musical career in his own hands.

There were several moments that highlighted how Bob did not want to be boxed up into only being known as a folk musician. He wanted to experiment and learn more. His drive to get back his creative freedom results in this rebellious act of his using the electric guitar and upsetting the audience with the performance.

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2) Bob and Pete’s last scene together

While Pete might have been upset about Bob playing the electric guitar in A Complete Unknown, he still was one of the most important characters in Bob’s life, a father figure, almost. He was proud of Bob’s achievement and disappointed with moments like the electric guitar incident, just like how a father would have reacted.

After the music festival, a crucial moment occurs between the two, which surprisingly didn't even have them talk to each other. As Pete notices Bob sitting alone, he just watches on but never approaches him, letting him be. The same thing happens when Bob catches Pete folding chairs after the festival and lets him be before leaving on his motorcycle.

Other than their relationship of respecting each other's stance, the moment also highlights the place that the characters chose to be. Pete was a folk musician, and he was still there, but Bob left, depicting his ambitions and embracing his creative freedom.

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1) Bob returning Woody’s Harmonica

Just like with Pete, there is another symbolic scene between Woody and Bob at the end of A Complete Unknown. Before leaving town, he visits Woody once more in the hospital and plays the Harmonica that he had given him. After playing it, he tries to return it. This crucial scene suggests Bob’s wish to quit the folk scene, which belongs to Woody more than to him.

A man who used his lyrics and words to express his emotions and conflicts, the scene was one of the most powerful scenes in the film that required no words. The two musicians just looking at each other in the eyes and Bob leaving after that symbolized him returning the tag of a folk singer to Woody, as he does not want to fit into just one mold.

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