White Stripes Release Revealing New Documentary
- Author: Min-Q Kim
- Posted on: Thursday March 18, 2010 at 10:00 AM
- Filed under: music, the white stripes, jack white, meg white, under the great white northern lights, movies, documentary, exclusive
The White Stripes premiered their new documentary, Under The Great White Northern Lights, on Friday at the Paramount Theater in Austin as part of the SXSW Film Festival (technically). But this flick is music all over, man -- specifically about The White Stripes, and their cross-country tour of Canada back in 2007, culminating in their 10 Year Anniversary Show in Nova Scotia.
At the end of their 10th Anniversary show, Jack and Meg shared a dance. (Photo: Autumn de Wild/Woodshed Films)
It was shortly after the release of Icky Thump, their sixth studio album, and the goal of the tour was to hit every province and territory in Canada. Director Emmet Malloy brings us along on Jack and Meg White's journey, as they make their way to small towns and cities alike, in places like the Yukon where they finish up a concert and are surprised to find that it's still light out.
Among the highlights are the montage of the secret daytime shows they played at every stop: in cabins, rec centers, bowling alleys, a boat floating in a harbor, even a city bus in Toronto, where they regale commmuters with a rousing rendition of "The Wheels on the Bus." Jack White is articulate, honest, sometimes defiant in his confessionals, responding to long-standing beefs he has seemingly held with the press and their coverage of his band, their music, and his relationship with his bandmate. He is hardworking - he says so, and I believe him - and surprisingly upbeat most of the time. And you can tell he cares fiercely about his craft.
But the real star of the show is Meg, whose sleepy beauty gives this movie a tenderness I didn't expect. She says very little, and when she does it's hardly louder than a whisper -- so quiet, in fact, she often requires her own subtitles. But I finally get it. Her presence in this band is no accident, and while their relationship is no clearer at the end of this film, you feel as though you know everything you need to know about it. Take the final scene [not much of a Spoiler Alert, but stop here if you don't want to know what happens]: It's Jack, sitting at a piano playing and singing, with Meg sitting next to him. Suddenly, mid-song, you realize Meg has begun to weep, silently and to herself. That's it. Just about ripped my f*cking heart out. I came to realize that she is the emotional something that I always found missing from Jack White's other projects.
Under The Great White North Lights is a vivid glimpse into the innerworkings of this enigmatic duo, something that has been held back from the public for so long. So if you're at all interested in this band, and want access, this is access. One scene consists entirely of Jack and Meg laying around backstage slowly drifting off to sleep as the cameras run. And the music ain't bad.
Here's a brief look at the film:
A limited edition box-set is available now, which includes the film, a DVD of their 10th Anniversary show, the band's first ever live album with 16 tracks from various shows on the tour, a 7-inch of 'Icky Thump' and 'The Wheels on the Bus,' a photo book, and a silk-screened print designed by Rob Jones. Not a bad haul. Available here.
Here is a cover of 'Jolene' that appears in the film.
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COMMENTS
“ Have you seen the French movie that an American company bought narrated by Morgan Freeman? "March of the Penguins", one of my favorite documentaries... ”
“ My ex-french guy just wrote a song this winter in Tignes titled "Northern Lights". Inneresting.. Anyway I don't really read all the stuff, I just like to leave comments. Hope that's okay, otherwise you wouldn't allow them, right? You are going to be soooooo sick of me by the time you get through all my comments. ”
“ agrree ”
“ thats too funny ... ”
