After a successful run in North America, a new documentary on one of Canada’s greatest artists opens in theatres in England Friday and promises to shed new light on Leonard Cohen through the lens of his greatest song.

‘Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song” explores how the 1984 classic initially achieved little mainstream success, but has since become one of music’s most-beloved ballads and a favourite for artists to cover.

Directors Dayna Goldfine and Daniel Geller say their documentary is focused on the idea that “Hallelujah” is the best pathway into looking at Leonard Cohen throughout his songwriting life.

They says Cohen was a relentless craftsman with a poet’s instinct to make every word count and add Leonard endorsed the project two years before his death in 2016 at the age of 82.