Soundtracking

Music has always been a very important part of cinema and audiences’ experience, adding coherence and evoking emotions in accordance with the stories told. Sometimes the music is the one thing we truly remember from a film. For our 25th edition we are proud to present this sidebar with films about music, under the heading Soundtracking (a similar sidebar with the same name was presented at tiff 2009). The film year 2014 provided many strong candidates, and it has been a grateful assignment to compose the program.

What are we tracking in this selection? If the five films presented have a common denominator, it is that they all tell of the extreme importance of music in the lives of their protagonists. In these films, music has the power to liberate as well as to enslave. The characters, be it a young black man from the banlieues of Strasbourg or a music mogul reciding in Hawaii, must live under its spell.

With a nod to another tiff sidebar of the year, City:Scope, we have also been looking for films where the music is grounded in particular urban milieus. This aspect is quite obvious when it comes to films about a streetwise rapper like Nas or the Sheffield band Pulp; in both cases the musical approaches are deeply influenced by the artists’ respective backgrounds. But it even goes for the portrait of Shep Gordon in supermensch. He started his career in the creative environment around legendary Chelsea Hotel in New York, where Jimi Hendrix allegedly pointed out his direction in life saying he should become a music manager.

But first and foremost we have aimed to pick quality films that are enlightening as well as entertaining – and that have some great music in them. Both fiction films presented are French: eden is a mesmerizing musical coming-of-age tale from the emerging electronica/house scene in Paris in the 1990s, whereas may allah bless france! tells of the tribulations of a hard-hitting rap group in a suburban environment.

The British documentary pulp is simply a great film about a very likable band, their music and their hometown Sheffield (which in the film seems like a place you’d want to move to). nas: time is illmatic records the background and legacy of one of the most important and celebrated rap albums of all time. And finally, to round it up, we have included supermensch: the legend of shep gordon for its many wild stories and

joyous approach to the music industry.

Enjoy!

EDEN

FRANCE 2014 DIRECTOR: Mia Hansen-Løve SCREENPLAY: Mia Hansen-Løve, Sven Hansen-Løve CINEMATOGRAPHY: Denis Lenoir CAST: Pauline Etienne, Vincent Macaigne, Greta Gerwig, Golshifteh Farahani, Laura Smet, Vincent Lacoste RUNNING TIME: 2h 11m PRODUCER: Charles Gillibert SOURCE: Arthaus

Paul er tenåring når housemusikken tar av i undergrunnsmiljøer i Paris på nittitallet. Elektronisk rave dominerer, men Paul er tiltrukket av den mer sjelfulle garage house-versjonen fra Chicago. Paul og en venn danner dj-duoen Cheers. To andre venner danner samtidig en gruppe med det merkelige navnet Daft Punk ... Vi følger gjengen fra de mikser på soverommet til de etter hvert slår igjennom, arrangerer overdådige fester og turnerer usa. Det er sex, drugs og endeløse beats. Men så banker virkeligheten hardt på døra.

Regissør Hansen-Løve har basert eden på broren Svens musikkarriere og skrevet manus i samarbeid med ham. Resultatet er en autentisk skildring av framveksten av fransk elektronika, samtidig som det omfavner universelle temaer: kunstnerisk lidenskap, det å finne seg selv, men også det å innse at man blir voksen. Det underliggende soundtracket gjør at filmen fortoner seg som et dj-set som suger deg inn i fortellingen.

Paul is a teenager when house music becomes the hottest thing at the Paris underground scene. Electronic rave dominates, but Paul favors the more soulful garage-house impulses from Chicago. Soon he has formed DJ-duo Cheers, while at the same time another group starts making themselves noticed under the name Daft Punk ... We follow these youngsters as they break through to arrange huge parties, play with celebrities and tour the usa. It’s a lifestyle of sex, drugs and endless beats – until reality finally catches up with them.

Director Hansen-Løve has based eden on the experiences of her brother Sven’s musical career. Their co-written script has made for an authentic depiction of a particular environment, but also for broader themes such as artistic passion, ambitions, and having to let go of one’s youth. The soundtrack makes the film not unlike an ongoing, transfixing DJ set.

REGISSØREN

Mia Hansen-Løve (1981) er født i Paris, hvor hun også har studert ved Konservatoriet for dramatikk. Hun startet sin karriere som skuespiller og manusforfatter. Siden 2004 har hun regissert to kortfilmer og fire spillefilmer.

THE DIRECTOR

Mia Hansen-Løve (1981) was born in Paris, where she studied at the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. She began her career as an actor and screenwriter, and has directed four feature films and two shorts since 2004.

FILMOGRAPHY (UTVALG/SELECTION):

2004 APRÈS MÛRE RÉFLEXION (SHORT) 2005 OFFRE SPÉCIALE (SHORT) 2007 TOUT EST PARDONNÉ 2009 THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN 2011 GOODBYE FIRST LOVE

NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC

USA 2014 DIRECTOR: One9 SCREENPLAY: Erik Parker CINEMATOGRAPHY: Frank Larson RUNNING TIME: 1h 17m PRODUCER: One9, Erik Parker, Anthony Saleh SOURCE: Non Stop Entertainment

Albumet Illmatic fra 1994 er en bauta i moderne musikkhistorie. Det gjorde rapperen Nas til en av verdens fremste artister, og har påvirket generasjoner av hiphop-ere. Nas er selv fra Queensbridge i New York, et knalltøft område og usas største sosiale boligprosjekt. Med sin hardtslående og følsomme poesi evnet han å snakke på vegne av mange unge svarte amerikanere fra liknende kår – han bar fram deres frustrasjoner, håp og verdensbilde. I denne filmen får vi se hvordan albumet ble til gjennom møter med Nas og hans nære familie, ikke minst broren Jungle og faren Olu Dara, og venner fra fortid og nåtid.

nas: time is illmatic er en sterk, drivende og bevegende dokumentar, kjemisk fri for musikkvitere og miksepult-intervjuer. I stedet gir den et innblikk i tida, stedet og familen som formet et av hiphopens aller største album. Alle liveopptak er tekstet for å knytte fortellingen og sangene tett sammen.

Since its release in 1994, the album Illmatic by New York-born rapper Nasir ‘Nas’ Jones has been a cornerstone in modern music history. Not only is it a benchmark for hip-hop ever since, it also encapsulated the socio-political outlook, enduring spirit, and collective frustrations of a generation of young black men searching for a voice in America. This documentary delves into the making of Illmatic, tracking a musical legacy that was handed down to Nas from his jazz musician father. It also examines its conditions and influences – from the loyalty and sacrifices of his close family, to Nas’ neighborhood crew in the rough environment of Queensbridge, the biggest public housing project in America.

Featuring extensive in-depth interviews and brilliant live performances with subtitles, nas: time is illmatic is a well-crafted, accessible and captivating documentary about one of hip-hop’s greatest works.

REGISSØREN

One9 er kunstner, regissør og produsent. Han er utdannet ved University of Maryland og har jobbet med gatekunst, graffiti og abstrakt kunst. NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC er hans første spillefilm.

THE DIRECTOR

One9 is an award-winning artist, director, producer and editor. He holds a degree in Visual Communications from University of Maryland and has worked in graffiti, street art and abstract art. NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC is his feature length directorial debut.

FILMOGRAPHY (UTVALG/SELECTION):

2013 CAN’T HOLD ME BACK (SHORT)

MAY ALLAH BLESS FRANCE!

QU’ALLAH BÉNISSE LA FRANCE!

FRANCE 2014 DIRECTOR: Abd al Malik SCREENPLAY: Abd al Malik CINEMATOGRAPHY: Pierre Aïm CAST: Marc Zinga, Sabrina Ouazani, Larouci Didi, Mickaël Nagenraft, Matteo Falkone, Stéphane Fayette-Mikano RUNNING TIME: 1h 36m PRODUCER: François Kraus, Denis Pineau-Valencienne, Fabien Coste SOURCE: Films Distribution

Er Allah og hiphop to veier til samme mål? Det spørsmålet settes på spissen i dette urbane eposet om fransk-kongolesiske Regis. Han vokser opp i Neuhof, en beryktet forstad til Strasbourg, men går på en prestisjefylt videregående. Om kveldene stjeler han og dealer dop, og i helgene drar han og rapgruppa New African Poets fulle hus på byens klubber. Etter hvert som flere av Regis’ venner blir ofre for meningsløs vold, vokser raseriet i ham, men også ønsket om å la ord og handling bli del av noe større. Han oppsøker islam, og tar navnet Abd al Malik. Det blir starten på en spirituell, politisk og musikalsk oppvåkning som kulminerer i filmens enestående sluttsekvens.

Energien, musikken, dialogen og svart/hvitt-bildene gjør at may allah bless france! slekter på filmer som hatet (tiff 2012) og boyz n the hood. Likevel har den en helt egen, slentrende flow.

Abd al Malik’s autobiographical debut feature may allah bless france! is a revelation, in more than one sense of the word. Combining explosive energy with a laid-back flow, it chronicles Regis and his upbringing in Strasbourg’s infamous suburb Neuhof. Regis goes to a prestigious high school, and resorts to drug-dealing and pick-pocketing to finance his emerging career as an mc with the rap group New African Poets. But when several of his friends fall victim to violence, Regis seeks advice in Islam, and takes a new name, Abd al Malik. But can religious practice, education, and musical exploration all lead to the same goal?

may allah bless france! has much in common with modern black and white urban classics such as la haine (tiff 2012) and boyz n the hood. Still, it has a distinct voice and flow, and a beautiful, spiritual finale.

REGISSØREN

Abd al Malik (f. 1975) heter opprinnelig Régis Fayette-Mikano. Han vokste opp i Neuhof, en forstad til Strasbourg, og studerte filosofi og litteratur ved Université Marc Bloch. MAY ALLAH BLESS FRANCE! er hans første spillefilm, og er basert på hans selvbiografi ved samme navn.

THE DIRECTOR

Abd al Malik (b. 1975) was born in Paris and named Régis Fayette-Mikano. He grew up in Neuhof, a suburb to Strasbourg, and later studied philosophy and literature at Université Marc Bloch. His first feature, MAY ALLAH BLESS FRANCE!, is based on his autobiography which bears the same title.

FILMOGRAPHY (UTVALG/SELECTION): 2014 QU’ALLAH BÉNISSE LA FRANCE! / MAY ALLAH BLESS FRANCE!

PULP: A FILM ABOUT LIFE, DEATH & SUPERMARKETS

UK 2014 DIRECTOR: Florian Habicht SCREENPLAY: Jarvis Cocker, Peter O’Donoghue, Florian Habicht CINEMATOGRAPHY: Maria Ines Manchego RUNNING TIME: 1h 30m PRODUCER: Alex Boden SOURCE: Altitude Films

De er kanskje 90-tallets smarteste og mest karismatiske band, og står bak en rekke udødelige hits. I 2012 annonserte Pulp en storslagen avskjedskonsert i hjembyen Sheffield – 25 år og ti millioner solgte album etter at de forlot byen til fordel for London. Regissør Florian Habicht har jobbet tett med Pulps arrogante, jordnære og uimotståelige dandy frontfigur Jarvis Cocker i utformingen av denne dokumentaren. Ved siden av intervjuer med ham, bandet, fansen og og Jarvis’ mamma får vi fengende konsertopptak, og møter med innbyggere i Sheffield som som har gjort bandets sanger til sine egne.

Morsommere, mer rørende og storslått enn rockedokumentarer flest –pulp: a film about life, death & supermarkets er både en film om

bandet og om byen som løftet det fram. Og det vil gi deg helt nye bilder på netthinnen neste gang du nynner eller gauler med til «Common People».

Pulp was the perhaps most charismatic pop band of the 1990s, with a number of unforgettable hits and ten million albums sold. In 2012, the band announced a spectacular farewell gig in their hometown Sheffield – 25 years after they left it for London. This film is the result of a close collaboration between director Florian Habicht and Pulp’s arrogant, down-to-earth and irresistibly dandy lead singer Jarvis Cocker. It features interviews with him, the band, their fans – and Jarvis’ mom, of course – in addition to great live concert footage. We also get to know a lot of people from Sheffield, many of whom have made Pulp’s songs their own.

Funnier and more moving and spectacular than most rock documentaries, pulp: a film about life, death & supermarkets is a film about a

great band and the city they grew up in.

REGISSØREN

Florian Habicht (f. 1975) er en newzealandsk filmskaper, født i Berlin. Han har studert ved kunstakademiet Elam School of Fine Arts ved Universitetet i Auckland, og i Amsterdam. Hans første spillefilm WOODENHEAD ble en kultfilm på New Zealand.

THE DIRECTOR

Florian Habicht (b. 1975) is a filmmaker from New Zealand, born in Berlin. He studied at the Elam School of Fine Arts at Auckland University, as well as in Amsterdam. His first feature WOODENHEAD became a cult film in New Zealand.

FILMOGRAPHY (UTVALG/SELECTION):

2000 LIEBESTRAUME (SHORT) 2003 WOODENHEAD 2004 KAIKOHE DEMOLITION (DOC) 2008 RUBBINGS FROM A LIVE MAN (DOC) 2009 LAND OF THE LONG BLACK CLOUD (DOC) 2011 LOVE STORY

SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON

USA 2013 DIRECTOR: Mike Myers, Beth Aala CINEMATOGRAPHY: Michael Pruitt-Bruun RUNNING TIME: 1h 25m PRODUCER: Beth Aala SOURCE: Non Stop Entertainment

I showbiz finnes det stjerner – og de som skaper stjerner. Shep Gordon er mannen som gjorde om Alice Cooper fra snål rocker til tenåringers våte drøm og foreldrenes verste mareritt. Gordon fikk innpass i musikkbransjen via Jimi Hendrix, og gjennom en lang karriere som manager for artister som Cooper, Pink Floyd, Blondie og Luther Vandross har han sett alt som er å se i Hollywood. Dette er filmen om mannen, som ikke bare kunne alle triksene, men som skrev selve boka.

Mike Myers er kjent for de fleste som komiker, og gjennom Austin Powers- og Waynes World-filmene har han vist at han har fingerspissfølelse for populærkulturen. supermensch: the legend of shep gordon er hans

debut som regissør. Filmen er co-regissert av Beth Aala.

In showbiz you have the stars – and the people who make them. Shep Gordon is the guy who transformed Alice Cooper from weirdo rocker to teenage idol and every parent’s worst nightmare. Gordon was introduced to the music business by Jimi Hendrix, and through his long career as a manager for artists such as Copper, Pink Floyd, Blondie and Luthere Vandross, he knows Hollywood like the back of his hand. This is the film about the man who not only knew all the tricks in show business – he actually invented them.

Mike Myers has proven himself as a connoisseur of popular culture in films such as wayne’s world and austin powers. supermensch: the

legend of shep gorden again proves his abilities, and is co-directed by Beth Aala.

REGISSØREN

Mike Myers (f. 1963) er en kanadisk skuespiller og manusforfatter. Han begynte sin karriere i 1988 i TV-showet Saturday Night Live, hvor han medvirket i seks sesonger. Myers slo gjennom med sin rollen Wayne i WAYNE’S WORLD (1993), og har medvirket på manus til denne og mange av sine seinere filmer.

THE DIRECTOR

Mike Myers (b. 1963) is a Canadian actor and screenwriter. He worked for six years in the TV show Saturday Night Live and earned a Primetime Emmy Award for his contributions. His breakthrough in the big screen came with WAYNE’S WORLD (1993)

FILMOGRAPHY (UTVALG/SELECTION):

2013 SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON (DOC)

26. Tromsø International Film Festival January 18–24 2016