Fans got a first taste of Arcade Fire's “The Reflektor Tapes” — the rock band's first feature-length film — through a teaser trailer last month.
Now, the film has not only confirmed a festival debut at TIFF, but it's theatrical release has been pushed up to start sooner, so Arcade Fire followers can jump right in.
The band dropped a new, fuller, artier trailer today (Aug. 11) with even more footage from concerts, interviews and behind-the-scenes of their “Reflektor” touring stints.
As a release describes the Kahlil Joseph-helmed flick, “It is a film quite unlike any other; an authentic cinematic experience, meeting at the crossroads of documentary, music, art and personal history… each and every screening of this limited release will be part of a unique cinematic event to be shared by audiences around the world.”
That must include its worldwide premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12. The movie also promises a brand-new, previously unreleased Arcade Fire song and 15-minutes of exclusive footage for its theatrical audiences.
“The film recontextualizes the album experience, transporting the viewer into a kaleidoscopic sonic and visual landscape. It charts the band”s creative journey as they lay foundations for the album in Jamaica, commence recording sessions in Montreal and play an impromptu gig at a Haitian hotel on the first night of Carnival, before bringing their breathtaking live show to packed arenas in Los Angeles and London,” the post reads.
I'm interested to see how Joseph deals with the group's fantastical, costumed live shows and cutting the film with these shots of Carnival and in Jamaica versus, say, Arcade Fire's Halloween show at the Palladium in L.A., dealing with how cultural ideas influence the group's sonic palate and how much registers with its fans.
“The Reflektor Tapes” heads to theaters starting on Sept. 23. Ticket info and additional details can be found via The Reflektor Tapes website.
Joseph has directed commercials and music videos like FKA Twigs' “Video Girl” and Kendrick Lamar's “mAAd” short film.