The narrative emphasizes Dylan's formative experiences, particularly his interactions with folk legends Woody Guthrie, played by Scott McNairy, and Pete Seeger, portrayed by Edward Norton. These encounters significantly shaped Dylan's development as a folk artist.
As the story unfolds, other iconic figures such as Joan Baez, played by Monica Barbaro, and Johnny Cash, portrayed by Boyd Holbrook, enter Dylan's life, further enriching his musical journey. The film captures the essence of the folk music scene and the collaborative spirit that defined it. Notably, all the songs performed by Bob Dylan in the film are sung by Chalamet, ensuring an authentic representation of the artist's voice. Similarly, Norton’s portrayal of Pete Seeger, Barbaro’s depiction of Joan Baez, and Holbrook’s interpretation of Johnny Cash feature their respective characters’ musical performances, creating a cohesive and immersive experience for the audience.
Through these interconnected stories, A Complete Unknown paints a vivid picture of the cultural landscape that influenced Dylan's rise to prominence in the music world.
Songs performed through the film:
- 'Dusty Old Dust (So Long It’s Been Good To Know Yuh)' Written and Performed by Woody Guthrie
- 'Oasis' Performed by Moondog, Written by Louis T. Hardin
- 'Death, When You Come To Me' Performed by Moondog, Written by Louis T. Hardin
- 'Om Jai Mahavur Prahbu' Performed by Sunny Jain
- 'The Same Idential Thing' Performed by The Gillettes, Written by Preston McKinnon
- 'Pallet On the Floor' Performed by Brownie McGhee
- ‘Water Is Alright In Tay’ Performed by The Clancy Brothers, Written by Seamus McGrath
- ‘This Land Is Your Land’ Performed by Edward Norton, Written by Woody Guthrie
- ‘Dusty Old Dust (So Long It’s Been Good To Know Yuh)’ Performed by Edward Norton, Written by Woody Guthrie
- ‘A Freshman With a Senior Dream’ Performed by Vinnie Monte, Written by Don Canton, Ira Kosloff and Nick Smith
- ‘Sing to Woody’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Slippin’ And Slidin’ (Peepin’ And Hidin’)’ Performed by Little Richard, Written by Edwin Bocage, Albert Collins, Richard Penniman and James Smith
- ‘Wimoweh (Mbube)’ Performed by Edward Norton, Written by Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Solomon Linda and Pete Seeger
- ‘Girl From the North Country’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘The Bottle Ain’t Full No More’ Written and Performed by Derek Vanderhorst
- ‘Fixin’ to Die’ Written by Booker T. Washington, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘House of the Rising Sun’ Performed by Monica Barbaro, Arranged by Joan Baez
- ‘I Was Young When I Left Home’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- Score from Now, Voyager, Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
- ‘All Over You’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Walk On’ Performed by Joshua Henry, Written by Brownie McGhee and Ruth McGhee
- ‘Main Title Theme (Billy)’ Performed by Calexico, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Silver Dagger’ Arranged by Joan Baez, Performed by Monica Barbaro
- ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Big River’ Performed by Boyd Holbrook, Written by Johnny Cash
- ‘Moanin’ The Blues’ Written and Performed by Hank Williams
- ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ Performed by Boyd Holbrook, Written by Johnny Cash
- ‘Masters of War’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘The Times They Are A’Changin’ Written By Bob Dylan
- ‘There But For Fortune’ Written by Phil Ochs
- ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘The Death of Emmett Till’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘Girl From the North Country’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘I’m Leaving You’ Written by Kent Harris, Performed by the Francettes
- ‘House of the Rising Sun’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Arranged by Bob Dylan
- ‘Only Pawn in Their Game’ Performed by Timothée Chalamet, Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘There But For Fortune’ Written by Phil Ochs, Performed by Monica Barbaro
- ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Lonely Woman’ Written and Performed by Ornette Coleman
- ‘That’s The Way The World Has Got To Be (II)’ Written and Performed by Chris Ducey
- ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘La Donna È Mobile’ From Rigoleto Written by Giuseppe Verdi and Performed by Tito Beltrán
- ‘Avenue of the Americas (51st Street)’ Written by Louis T. Hardin, Performed by Moondog
- ‘Puff, The Magic Dragon’ Written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘When the Ship Comes In’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Edward Norton
- ‘The Irish Rover’ Arranged and Produced by Nick Baxter, Performed by Will Harrison and Nick Baxter
- ‘Oscalypso’ Written by Oscar Pettiford, Performed by Yusef Lateef
- ‘I’ll Keep It With Mine’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ Written by Bob Dylan and Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You’ Written by Will Oldham, Performed by Bennie Prince Billy
- ‘Careless Love’ Performed (and Arranged by) Brownie Mcghee
- ‘Guitar Rag’ Written by Sara Martin and Sylvester Weaver, Performed by Sylvester Weaver
- ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ Written by Bob Dylan and Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Oh, I Had a Golden Thread’ Written by Pete Seeger, Performed by Edward Norton
- ‘Down in My Heart Pt. 1’ Written by Nick Baxter and William Morganfield, Performed by Big Bill Morganfield
- ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Down in My Heart Pt. 2’ Written by Nick Baxter and William Morganfield, Performed by Big Bill Morganfield
- ‘Gates of Eden’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Monica Barbaro
- ‘All I Really Want To Do’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro
- ‘Railroad Bill’ Arranged by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Will Harrison
- ‘If I Were You’ Written by Peter Asher and Gordon Waller, Performed by Peter and Gordon
- ‘Jump Back’ Written and Performed by Eugene Blacknell
- ‘Óró Sé Do Bheatha Abhaile’ Performed by Alan Murray
- ‘Josh’s Doumbek’ Written and Performed by Josh B. Wood
- ‘Leather Britches’ Traditional
- ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Farewell, Angelina’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Monica Barbaro
- ‘Shady Grove’ Performed by Kirsten Laurel
- ‘Mean Woman’ Written by William Morganfield, Performed by Big Bill Morganfield
- ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro
- ‘All Day and All of the Night’ Written by Ray Davies, Performed by The Kinks
- ‘Rise And Shine’ Performed by Edward Norton
- ‘Mama, You Been on My Mind’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro
- ‘It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Hammer Ring’ Performed by Texas Prison Worksong Group featuring Oren Waters
- ‘Maggie’s Farm’ Written by Bob Dylan, Performed by Timothée Chalamet
- ‘Dusty Old Dust (So Long It’s Been Good To Know Yuh)’ Written by Woody Guthrie, Performed by Watt White and Timothée Chalamet
- ‘One Too Many Mornings’ Written by Bob Dylan
- ‘I’m Through With You’ Written by Paul Johns and Laurence Jones, Performed by Little Sonny Daye With the Shyndelis Band
