Lost In France
(Edge City Films, 2016)
Directed by Niall McCann
Produced by Nicky Gogan and Paul Welsh
An affectionate
tribute to Chemikal Underground, an independent record label that was home to
Mogwai and The Delgados, this documentary is not quite as breezy as the colourful
and kinetic opening minutes might suggest.
Director Niall McCann elicits from his interviewees some poignant
reflections on the life of a musician: RM Hubbert tells of how playing live is
the form of communication that best helps him to deal with his depression, ex-Delgado
Emma Pollock admits that because of her love of music, her adult life has
always been and will always be, about keeping herself afloat for six months at
a time.
Lost in
France is not a good advertisement for music as a potentially lucrative
career (Stewart Henderson laments the lack of opportunities and support for
young musicians in the fragmented, profit-obsessed industry of today) but it is
an excellent one for music as a vocation. There is plenty of evidence of a hearty
camaraderie between the bands and their audience, and footage of joyful
performances in stadiums, clubs and in a small pub in rural Brittany (see the
title). This is a warm-hearted
celebration of creative collaboration and friendship.
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