Frank (2014)
Directed by Lenny Abrahamson
A man who wears a giant mask day and night. Isn’t that enough? It would be, but Lenny Abrahamson puts a lot more in this sweet and sour music comedy. It’s the story of a young wanna-be musician who accidentally joins an experimental eccentric band led by Frank, the man with the mask. Loosely inspired by Chris Sievey’s Frank Sidebottom as well as Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart.
[youtube id=”-catC4tBVyY” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
We are the best (2013)
Directe by Lukas Moodysson
When you are 13 you just have three certainties: school sucks, everything is possible and if you were in a band you would kick ass. Lukas Moodysson’s growing tale tells us the story of Klara, Bobo and Hedvig, living in the early ’80s Stockholm, who form an all-girl band with one and only purpose: rebel. Moodysson did a fantastic job adapting his wife Coco’s graphic novel, and giving us a film which can definitely remind us that the omnipotent feeling we all had at some point once in our youth, wasn’t a illusion after all.
[youtube id=”fWWNd-eybN0″ align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Hedwig & the Angry Inch (2001)
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell
All right, let’s calm down. Are you ready? Great, cause John Cameron Mitchell will lead you in the crazy journey of Hedwig, an east german singer genderqueer and her misfortune while listening to a soundtrack that has already become a cult. This hilarious music comedy-drama based on the stage musical of the same name will make you laugh, think and maybe cry.
Oh, and remember, you never put a bra in a drier, never!
[youtube id=”VLa8ytfMnXo” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Once (2007)
Directed by John Carney
This romantic modern-day musical set on the streets of Dublin, tells us about the eventful week of a Czech immigrant who dreams about owning a piano while selling flowers, and an Irish busker who dreams about making an album while fixing hoovers. They will meet, write, play and… in this best original song’s oscar winner, screened at Raindance that will give you cuddles, whether you like It or not!Â
[youtube id=”FWJIylZ8VyM” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Secret (2007)
Directed by Jay Chou
“It’s Friday, let’s go to Taiwan!” How many times have said this to your friends? Well, here we have Secret (a.k.a. Bùnéng shu? de mìmì), first work of director and singer Jay Chou. The film starts as a classic love triangle set against the background of an art college, but following the intoxicating melody played by the young and mysterious Lu. You will be brought in a mystical adventures that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end, when the much-talked-about secret will be revealed.
[youtube id=”DTDuOkNSJA4″ align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Eden (2015)
Directed by Mia Hansen-Love
An intense trip in the underground electro music in the Paris of the 90’s. We are all familiar with films about bands, music dreams, singers and etc. So this is a brand new path to walk, under the cultural surface of the city of love. The experience of Paul and his DJ collective named Cheers is based on Mia Hansen-Love’s brother’s story. If you have never been to a rave, you will after watching this film.
[youtube id=”2l1T9xs-o0o” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.
A man, a cat and a guitar, passing through cruel winter in New York 1961. Yes I know, I would answer “So what..”. But this film is actually about this, a man with a dream and the instruments to destroy It in his own hands. The dream is as simple to say as apparently impossible to achieve: becoming a folk musician. A cold week of struggle and auto-sabotage that will lead Llewyn exactly where He started from, or not?
[youtube id=”dHw8emMnEao” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Tommy (1975)
Directed by Ken Russell.
Let’s jump back into the past. The Who, Jack Nicholson, Elton John, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Robert Powell. what more could you ask for? Oh yeah sorry, the story of course. You would think that an epic cast like that was enough. Tommy is a english boy growing in the post WWII England, who has a traumatic experience and becomes mute, deaf and blind. Things will start to change when he becomes a pinball phenomenon and a true crowd of apostles starts gathering around him. A legendary rock opera with an epic cast including…oh no sorry, you already know.
[youtube id=”G4K_9WyQCgA” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
24 Hour Party People (2002)
Directed by Michael Winterbottom.
In this film we take a look at music industry not from the stage but from behind it. Through the eyes of Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan), journalist and co-founder of the revolutionary music label Factory Records. A great, chaotic and loud trip in the Mad-chester era from the ’70s to the ’90s when bands like Joy Division and New Order were born and burnt, changing the music history for ever.
[youtube id=”q2PYyvGFHD8″ align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
Whiplash (2014)
Directed by Damien Chazelle.
When speaking about Whiplash to a friend of mine, who is a jazz player, he said “That’s not real”. That was enough for me to appreciate this film, after all we want to be tricked don’t we? When the lights go out and characters appears on the screen we want them to lie to us, and well enough that we believe them completely. I am no musician, but sure the story of Andrew (Miles Teller) and his terrifying teacher Mr. Fletcher (Oscar winner J.K. Simmons) showed me how cruel, intense and painstaking the journey of every person who wants to fulfil their dream. There are no magic spells nor believing in you while sitting on a sofa, just hard-work. As in music, as in filmmaking, as in life.
[youtube id=”7d_jQycdQGo” align=”left” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no” maxwidth=”500″]
If you watched all these films now you should be hearing a voice thanking you, It’s your ears’. Please leave your comments and let us know if you have any other films that makes your ears feel thankful.
