The Seattle International Film Festival boasts more than a dozen music documentaries in its "Face the Music" section. "Malfunkshun: The Andrew Wood Story" is a portrait of one Seattle rock star whose colorful, promising career was tragically cut short.

Scot Barbour's impressive directorial debut is a tribute to the late Seattle rock singer, wrapped up in a cautionary tale about a dysfunctional family and heroin abuse.

Andrew Wood was a talented, troubled young man from Bainbridge Island who was, briefly, Seattle's most colorful and flamboyant rock star. His band, Mother Love Bone, was a harbinger of the grunge phenomenon and on the cusp of stardom when Wood overdosed in March 1990, just days before the band was to release its first major-label album.

A couple of his band mates, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, went on to form Pearl Jam, and his roommate, Chris Cornell, had already started Soundgarden. In just a few short years, both bands would be hugely successful, while Wood was largely forgotten.

This documentary aims to give Wood his due as a notable talent who inspired the local scene, laying the groundwork for grunge, which briefly made Seattle the center of the rock universe in the early '90s.

Wood strutted like a rock star years before that, while still in high school. He started wearing silly hats, sunglasses, lace gloves, frilly shirts, lipstick and makeup in his first band, Malfunkshun. His boldness influenced others, especially years later when MLB landed a recording contract.

His mother and brothers are key figures in the documentary, as they speak frankly about alcohol abuse in the household and its effect on Wood and his two brothers, all of whom developed emotional problems. Wood started doing drugs at 12 and never stopped. His agonizing attempts at quitting heroin, documented in his own handwriting, are heartbreaking.

Home movies and family photos show him as a chubby little boy in competition with his slightly older brothers. Photos and amateur videos of him in Seattle show a handsome young man with a wild mane of blond hair. Toward the end are professional photos and videos of Mother Love Bone, looking ready to take on the world. There's lots of music in the documentary and the best of it shows that Wood could have developed into a major talent.

Lively, creative animation tries to capture Wood's musical personality, and it's well done. The film moves briskly, with well-edited interviews and lots of visuals. This film should go a long way in restoring Wood's reputation as a key figure in Seattle rock history.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com