Goodbye Horses: The Numerous Lives of Q Lazzarus is a mysterious, captivating, and poignant documentary about an artist and a memorable song that defined her life—where art and life imitate each other, perhaps unknowingly but not to be ignored. Director Eva Aridjis-Fuentes embarked on an unexpected journey when she discovered one day that Diane Luckey, also known as Q Lazzarus and celebrated for the cult hit song “Goodbye Horses,” was her driver for her car service. Setting off on a quest to understand what happened to Q, Aridjis-Fuentes uncovers the mystery behind Q’s disappearance, which was full of emotion, regret, and more.
Discovered by Jonathan Demme in 1987 during a fateful cab ride, Q experienced a moment of fame when her cult hit song “Goodbye Horses” was featured in The Silence of the Lambs. However, despite having a following in the New York and London club scenes, she was unable to secure a record deal and completely vanished from the public eye in 1995.
Neither her friends nor her bandmates knew what had happened to her until another fateful cab ride 25 years later reunited her with Aridjis-Fuentes. This encounter prompted Q to trust Aridjis-Fuentes with her life story, detailing her passion as a singer and artist, her family relationships, her struggles to succeed in the entertainment industry, and her fall from grace. Aridjis-Fuentes provides Q the platform to share her story in her own words, especially through her music, which features a collection of previously unheard songs that reflect Q’s journey.
“…a mysterious, captivating, and poignant documentary about an artist and a memorable song…”
Becoming a taxi driver in New York City allowed Q to support her singing, leading to a fateful meeting with Demme, who featured “Goodbye Horses” in one of the most memorable scenes of The Silence of the Lambs, creating an unconventional historic moment for Q. Moving to London offered more opportunities to become a successful artist than the U.S. did. However, drugs and partying began to take over, and when Q returned to New York City, the situation only worsened. Q’s life hit rock bottom until she turned it around with her son, James.
Throughout the documentary, Aridjis-Fuentes presents Q’s story and life from Q’s perspective, as well as from the viewpoints of those who loved and supported her. While her son James set out to start his own life, unexpected health events unfolded for Q. Documentary films often shift direction during the process of exploring a subject or situation, and perhaps for Aridjis-Fuentes, making Goodbye Horses: The Numerous Lives of Q Lazzarus was destined to happen for her as her storytelling allowed for Q to reveal many things left untold until now.
Goodbye Horses: The Numerous Lives of Q Lazzarus is essential for understanding how an artist handles processes and outcomes. It reveals the shortcomings and hardships of a society often unable to provide for women and women of color who want to succeed with their inherent gifts and talents, in this case, Q’s singing and songwriting.
"…a mysterious, captivating, and poignant documentary about an artist and a memorable song that defined her life..."
