All Tomorrow’s Parties,

Unless the Hells Angels are involved, music-festival documentaries
usually aren’t worth the price of a ticket stub, but this mesmerizing
film, following the experimental British fest, is an exception.
Jonathan Caouette (Tarnation) compiled footage and photo stills
from over 200 professional and amateur sources (HD, DV, 8mm,
cellphone), and edited them together in gorgeous, inventive ways,
mixing split-screens, grainy Super-8 and old TV footage. Curated by
Patti Smith, Mogwai, Portishead, Sonic Youth and more, performances
happen everywhere: under tarps, on the beach, in a casino. David Cross
gets heckled and Daniel Johnston plays on the grass, and in a motel
room where eager fans hang over the windowsill. A dreamy view of music,
fandom, youth and instantaneous communities.

This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2009.