Todd Haynes is no stranger to music, converting his penchant for a melody into the love-it-or-hate-it Velvet Goldmine and Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story, an equally divisive biopic told with Barbie dolls.

But where James Mangold and Taylor Hackford only needed one star to play the leading man of their musical biographies Walk the Line and Ray, Haynes employs six.

Perhaps alluding to the complexity of the artist formerly known as Robert Zimmerman, the most surprising of these depictions comes from the extraordinarily talented Marcus Carl Franklin, who is African-American… and only 13 years old. His performance symbolises Dylan’s admiration of blues and the heavy influence Woody Guthrie had on his early music.

Bale’s portrayal sees Dylan at the height of his popularity as he transcends the limelight with his revolutionary protest music, while Ledger assays the singer’s turbulent personal life.

Dylan’s rebellious move from acoustic to electric guitar is conveyed magnificently by Cate Blanchett who once again proves she’s a damn good impersonator as well as one of Hollywood’s most revered actresses.

Interspersed throughout the film are the ponderings of Ben Whishaw’s Dylan, who represents the huge influence the prolific poet Arthur Rimbaud had on his work.

And finally, Richard Gere plays Bob as Billy the Kid who, like Dylan, escaped from the public eye preferring a period of anonymity. (The allusion here may have something to do with Dylan’s acting role in Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid.)

Story-wise there is no beginning, middle or end – this is a composition piece where the scenes chop and change without any obvious thread or conclusion.

There are many references to the artist’s work as well as his experiences and, like a piece of well-written poetry, I’m Not There provides beautiful imagery, symbolism and is open to individual interpretation.

The uninitiated would, however, do well to swot up on their Dylan lore before settling in. It’s not your average biopic but it’s unforgettable all the same.

Anna-Belen Dunlop