The Thousands

Most concert films are crap. It’s weird because live music can be the most mind-blowing experience of your life but something about putting it on film tends to sap it of its specialness. There are of course exceptions and anyone who’s seen Burning, Parisian filmmaker Vincent Moon’s ode to Mogwai, will testify that he does things differently. Instead of cobbling together sweaty greatest hits cash grabs, Moon strives to figure out what it is that makes an artist connect with people then creates a piece of poetically paced, beautifully shot cinema about it.

With An Island, Moon has chosen the chamber pop of the stupidly talented Danish band Efterklang for his latest investigation. The film follows the band at home on the remote island of Als as they make music in unlikely places (on the backs of trucks, in rustic barns, in school halls and other generally stunning Scandinavian locations) and pieces together little anecdotes from wiry frontman Casper Clausan’s life in the town.

The best part is they get their family and townspeople to collaborate on new arrangements of the already lush and playful Efterklang songs. The genuine joy on everyone’s faces as they build the music is incredibly uplifting. It’s a beautiful statement about how songs aren’t the work of untouchable geniuses working alone; rather they’re the result of lives lived in communities that shape the players.