I clearly remember seeing Jonathan Demme’s remarkable Talking Heads concert masterpiece Stop Making Sense on the big screen almost twenty five years ago. It remains my favourite concert film and I attribute that directly to seeing it in a theatre for the first time. The sound, the pictures and an over-the-top excited audience were the likely source for my cinematic sentimentality. That being said, if you’ve seen it, you know just how extraordinary the document really is.
“RIDE, RISE, ROAR” screenings at South By Southwest:
March 15: Paramount (1:30 p.m.)
March 18: Paramount (Noon)
March 20: G-Tech (5 p.m.)
Directed by David Hillman Curtis, the film both explores the enigmatic musician’s creation of his highly choreographed stage show and shows performances from the concerts. The whole thing is built around Everything That Happens Will Happen Today; Byrne’s stellar 2008 collaboration with Brian Eno, and their previous work together, including with Talking Heads.
From the film website:
Shot with multiple cameras over several concerts during the 08/09 tour, the film blends the energy and charisma of classic Talking Heads with the heartfelt pathos of David Byrne and Brian Eno’s most recent collaboration. Between the songs, the film achieves an unprecedented intimacy with David Byrne and the band, documenting behind-the-scenes auditions, rehearsals, and interviews with key players while revealing the creative process that led to the show's unique fusion of pop music and modern dance.This one looks fascinating dear reader. David Byrne’s creativity clearly knows no bounds. Let’s hope the film shows up at a theatre near you.
