Kumu Documentary: The Sparks Brothers
Location: Kumu auditorium
Dir Edgar Wright
UK, USA 2021, 140 min
In English
Introduction by Mart Juur.
Sparks are, paradoxically, a group that have proved to be hugely influential whilst remaining criminally overlooked: they are your favourite band’s favourite band. Experimenting with a variety of musical styles, from glam rock to electropop, with idiosyncratic lyrics and a uniquely tongue-in-cheek visual sensibility, the founding members, Russ and Ron Mael, have weathered the storm of fluctuating popular opinion and album sales, whilst maintaining their artistic integrity throughout a five-decade-plus career and twenty-five studio albums.
In his debut documentary, Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho), a self-proclaimed superfan, brings a spirited vision to exploring the life and times of the Mael brothers, bringing their story to life through eccentric animation and interviews with a who’s who of musical icons, and digging deep into the band’s rich, career-spanning archival footage.