Pavements
15
Why watch?
“Pavements is a loving embodiment of the spirit of the group, rather than a literal documentary. Amazingly, it hangs together as a film in its own right without needing audiences to come in already as fans. However, the creative and surprising energy of the film, hand in hand with the space it gives to so much of Pavement’s music, makes lots of room for audiences to leave in love.”
Wendy Cook,
Head of Cinema
Hyde Park Pick: Pavements
Pavements blends authentic archival footage, contemporary documentary moments, an ironic jukebox musical, a satirical Hollywood biopic, and playful mockumentary sequences, brilliantly collapsing the boundaries between reality and fiction.
As Pavement prepare for their sold-out 2022 reunion tour, the film captures surreal behind-the-scenes preparations for a musical adaptation of their songs, a museum dedicated entirely to the band's legacy, and a knowingly clichéd Hollywood biopic starring Joe Keery as frontman Stephen Malkmus.
Interwoven with genuine archival footage and featuring the band members themselves alongside a cast of actors and comedians, Pavements humorously examines fan obsession, myth-making, and the cultural mechanics behind fame. This uniquely layered exploration challenges the traditional way stories about musicians are told with artistry, absurdity and humour, culminating in a refreshingly inventive and endearingly self-aware tribute to an unforgettable band.
Showing in partnership with friends at our local independent record store Jumbo Records. You can buy Pavement records from them here.
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