Employing an intimate interview style, Grammy- and Emmy(R)-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny showcases Bruce Springsteen's first-person take on his writing process. Offering an in-depth discussion on the origins of key tracks from his first double album, Springsteen shares how they were developed, from the notebook page to the studio to, most viscerally, the concert stage. Interspersed throughout the interview are his acoustic versions of several defining tracks from "The River," including "Two Hearts," "The River," "Independence Day," "Hungry Heart," "Point Blank" and "Wreck on the Highway."

In addition to rehearsal clips from Sept. 1980 and live performances from the legendary Nov. 5, 1980 Arizona State University show in Tempe Ariz., the documentary showcases more than 100 recently unearthed photos of Springsteen and The E Street Band during recording sessions for "The River." Also presented are rare and previously unheard demos and outtakes from the 14-month recording process, including such songs as "Stray Bullet," "Chain Lightning," "The Time That Never Was," "Cindy" and "Take 'Em as They Come."