Like Pop Star on Ice, Sounds Like Teen Spirit: A Popumentary is 1) a well-done reality-show-style doc with pop entertainment value to spare, and 2) an irresistibly fun SIFF entry we weren't able to tell you about before all the Seattle screenings had happened.
The film follows several ridiculously talented European kids competing for the top prize at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. And in case you didn't know, Eurovision is a huge deal across the pond -- for the junior version, 17 countries participate, each sending one representative singer/songwriter aged 10-15 to the annual finals competition in Rotterdam.
The entrants' work is as great and as awful as you imagine. But I defy anyone who sees Teen Spirit NOT to not fall head-over-heels for some of these young'uns. Especially Mariam, a big-voiced girl from Georgia who has national pride to spare, and Giorgos, a kid from Cyprus who is picked on at school for his gay ways and his big dreams. Then there's Belgian group Trust, whose song I admittedly found catchiest and whose cute (and hormonal) 15-year-old members are all total charmers.
In his first feature documentary, British director Jamie Jay Johnson follows these and other kids from their national finals to the big night: a live, televised, cross-continent production with extravagant, garish, cheesy sets... just like it'd be in America, except there's no big-money reward, no pushy parents, no bitchy divas-in-the-making, and (almost) no camera-hogging narcissism. Just kids propelled by their own talent and ambition. Seriously enchanting.
If you live on the Eastside, or think you might find yourself there next Sunday, or if you just like happy and colorful music docs about Europe and/or teens, buy some tickets and get yourself to the Kirkland Performance Center 6/7 at 4p. Don't let the unfortunate title deter you -- this film is an absolute delight.
1 ChrisB said on May 31, 2009
I really loved this film, too. Were you also at the screening this afternoon?
It was so refreshing that there weren't any kids that had prima donna attitudes or stage parents and they mostly seemed to be supportive of one another. The girl from Georgia was my favorite and the "where are they now" update at the end about her was heartbreaking.
It had its flaws (it barely touched on any of the songs) and it may not be the best film to play at SIFF, but so far, it is my favorite.
2 josh said on May 31, 2009
I loved it, too.
I was a little peeved that they didn't show the winning number at all (due to the odd opera montage toward the end), but the acts they focused on were all so adorable that my quibble with it is only minor. The first 3/4 were a complete joy, and I agree with ChrisB about the final updates.
3 Imaginary Amie said on June 1, 2009
I'm sad I missed it! Have to catch it later - hopefully one of our local theaters will pick it up, or SIFF Cinema will play it after the fest.
4 imaginary embracey said on June 1, 2009
ChrisB - I was at the Sunday afternoon screening. It was so sparsely attended I can't believe we missed each other!
Josh - I felt the same way about the winning number. Not to give too much away, and maybe I'm just being too American in my thinking, but it made me wonder later if that team got a recording contract that led to a copyright/clearance issue? Unlikely but possible, I suppose.
And those "where are they now" updates had me in tears.
5 imaginary liz said on June 1, 2009
I want to see this soooo bad! I think I'm going to have to pack a luna bar and head to the eastside. Anyone have a GPS I can borrow? ; )
6 josh said on June 1, 2009
It will take a while, but the 255 goes right there.
I sort of wondered if they were trying to make a point about it not being about winning or losing. Or maybe the later team was just completely uninteresting.
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