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Sheffield DocFest · 2011

Sheffield DocFest 2011

Music Docs

Programme

12 films · 5 reviews

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Bob And The Monster

Review preview for Bob And The Monster

Bob And The Monster takes an affectionate look at rock and a fresh look at drug addiction.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
Musician Bob Forrest talks about his days with Thelonius Monster and his struggle with heroin addiction.

(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Keirda Bahruth; Stars: Bob Forrest, Steven Adler, Courtney Love, Flea, Iris Berry)

Full review

Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Review preview for Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

Few music documentaries manage to pull together this many top contributors.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
The story of the legendary hop hop act, from high school to superstardom and beyond.

(Country: United States; Year: 2011; Director: Michael Rapaport; Stars: Q Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Mary J. Blige, Common, Mos Def, Adam Horowitz, Ludacris, Red Alert)

Full review

A Certain Band Called Queen

In 1971, four university students got together to form a band. Forty years later, that certain band called Queen have released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide. With their records still telling their hotcakes, the popularity of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon here tell their story for the first time. Guiding us through an extensive archive full of unseen footage, they reveal how four strong minded individuals, all capable of writing massive hit songs, worked together so successfully for decades. Their story is a remarkable one, a narrative that covers early struggles, huge obstacles, success, arguments, breakups, triumph, tragedy and an enduring legacy – all against a backdrop of brilliant music and stunning live performances from every corner of the globe. Queen never did anything by half –their highs were massive, but their lows catastrophic. It is a compelling story told with intelligence, wit, plenty of humour and painful honesty.

(Country: UK; Year: 2011; Director: Matt O'Casey)

Cigarettes & Songs (Cigarety a pesnicky)

In an evangelical church in Eastern Slovakia, something extraordinary is happening. A group of Roma gypsies and Slovakians have come together to make music and are recording a CD of ancient Roma songs in new compositions. Bela cannot speak about the loss of his wife and children, but pours out his emotions in moving song. Irena has left her husband Emil and her children behind in their tiny home, happy to have a few days to focus on the songs which have forever been a part of her life. Their Slovakian colleagues have had no experience with the Roma before, who, like in so many other countries, are continually persecuted. They soon warm to their humour and humility, in a stirring film about the unifying, therapeutic power of music.

(Country: Slovakia; Year: 2011; Director: Marek Sulik, Jana Kovalcikova)

Get Rhythm

When he was 14, one of Charlie Wilson’s mates picked up a guitar. His rendition of That’ll Be the Day made Charlie’s hair stand on end, making him vow to learn the guitar. Now the lead singer of the Brick Lane Boogie Boys, he plans to continue playing until he drops…

(Country: UK; Year: 2010; Director: Gualtiero Fisauli)

Hit So Hard: The Life & Near Death Story of Patty Schemel

Aware that her rock and role lifestyle was yielding some crazy episodes, Patty Schemel picked up a video camera in the early 1990s. A rising star in the flourishing music scene of America’s Pacific Northwest, Schemel’s pals included Kurt Cobain and his wife Courtney Love, who hired her as the drummer for her band Hole. Capturing some extraordinary scenes, including Cobain and Love at home with their baby daughter, Schemel also recorded her own descent from playing sell-out world tours to destitute heroin addict, and her ultimate rehabilitation. The footage is interwoven with entertaining interviews with Schemel and Hole’s surviving members (their base player Kristen Pfaff died of an overdose just two months after Cobain’s suicide) and Schemel’s own family. “I couldn’t get over that she gave up a good job at Microsoft,” says her mom. With a pace as fast moving as the music, director P. David Ebersole’s film is destined to become a classic music doc on the joys and perils of life in the fast lane.

(Country: United States; Year: 2011; Director: P. David Ebersole)

Jarvis Cocker's Musical Map of Sheffield

If you are in here at Doc/Fest with no knowledge of Sheffield, be sure to take time out for Jarvis Cocker’s intimate audio tour of his hometown. He takes us through the Sheffield of his childhood – and an embarrassing lederhosen episode – as well as the huge changes to the city in the past two decades. He also introduces the music of Sheffield stars, including Joe Cocker, Cabaret Voltaire, The Human League and Artery.

(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: N/A N/A)

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

A documentary following the young star in the run-up to a Madison Square Garden concert.

(Country: US; Year: 2011; Director: Jon M Chu; Stars: Justin Bieber)

Mama Africa

Review preview for Mama Africa

Manages to do justice to Makeba’s wonderful talent and noble activism.

Robert Munro · 4 out of 5
A documentary portrait of the acclaimed performer and political campaigner.

(Country: Finland, Germany; Year: 2011; Director: Mika Kaurismäki; Writer: Don Edkins, Mika Kaurismäki; Stars: Miriam Makeba)

Full review

Mrs Carey's Concert

Review preview for Mrs Carey's Concert

Connolly and Raymond capture both the pressure and exhilaration of practice and performance and include plenty of footage of the teenagers simply going about the process of growing up and learning to work together.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
The determined Mrs Carey prepares her pupils to deliver the concert of a lifetime at the Sydney Opera House.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2010; Director: Bob Connolly, Sophie Raymond; Stars: Karen Carey) , Official site

Full review

Nyman in Progress

When Michael Nyman was seven years old, his school music teacher noticed his interest in piano and took him on as a protégé for the next ten years. The investment wasn’t in vain: Michael Nyman went on to become one of the UK’s most original, talented and celebrated composers. In his many film scores, including a dozen Peter Greenway films, Jane Campion’s 'The Piano' (1993), and the Oscar winning doc 'Man on Wire' (2008), his music is known for being a strong character of its own. The film follows Nyman during an extremely rich period in his professional life. On the musical front he’s travelling the world and readying a challenging piece for the London Proms. He’s also about to reveal a long-held passion for the visual, with a remarkable exhibition of video art and photography. Throughout, Silvia Beck’s portrait offers a unique insight into Michael Nyman’s personal views, his thoughts and emotions; his world.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2010; Director: Silvia Beck)

Sound It Out

Review preview for Sound It Out

What's so clever about the chattering classes when you've got this?

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
Documentary about the last record shop in Stockton.

(Country: UK; Year: 2011; Director: Jeanie Finlay) , Official site

Full review