Strobe Music Film Festival bringing music history to Sydney cinemas
Image: Still from 'MOGWAI: If The Stars Had A Sound'. Image: Supplied
The fourth annual Strobe Music Film Festival promises to be a film festival that lovers of music documentaries won’t want to miss.
The festival was curated by Paris Pompor and Georgie Zuzak, music documentary enthusiasts whose passion for this genre is evident from the excellence of the program curated.
There are 7 music documentaries, most of which are Australian premieres and a retrospective screening of Gillian Armstrong’s 80s cult-classic musical Starstruck.
Mogwai – If The Stars Had A Sound is the opening night film which will screen at the iconic Sydney Opera House. Mogwai are a Scottish post-rock band formed in Glasgow in 1995.
“If you’re a fan of Mogwai this is a film you’re going to want to see, there’s a lot of live footage in it. Basically they’re a bunch of Glasgow lads and they’re telling their story in a very undramatic way, but the live footage makes you feel that you’re back there seeing them live,” enthused Zuzak.
Black Rio! Black Power! Is a great slice of Brazilian history of people finding out about black American music and then transposing it into their lives in Brazil.
Luther: Never Too Much tells the story of well-known late soul/r’n’b singer Luther Vandross. He was a gay singer who couldn’t come out and that’s the sad part of his life which was really pushed under the carpet by the record label he was with.
“We delve into the fact that he was on children’s program Sesame Street with a band, who he worked with to get his career launched and real personal stories about his body image and how he was criticized for being the way he was at certain times,” she explained.
Devo should also prove to be a favourite at the festival. How did this bizarre band accused of being mutants from Akron, fascist clowns and just plain stupid reach the top of the charts earning a gold album? An insightful and at times humorous journey into the ups and downs of this very unique 70s band.
Discerning moviegoers who enjoy revisiting old classics on the big screen should be mesmerized by the little seen Aussie musical Starstruck.
“Starstruck has a cultic attachment to it and it’s been beautifully restored. You can see the difference between the original and the restored version. That’s going to be a lot of fun!”
The screening of Starstruck is preceded by a 10 minute short film Do It Herself: A Honey Trap Sound System Story which centers on a group of women who do music, film and art in Marrickville. It’s about people who are trying to launch their careers.
And who would this music film festival appeal to?
“I think there’s a bit of everything for people who are connected with music and who want a good story,’ concluded Zuzak.
ZUZAK’S HOT PICKS
THE LEGACY OF J DILLA – This is the tearful story of the late J Dilla, a musician, producer and visionary who accomplished a lot in his short lifetime. He was considered one of the most influential producers of rap and hip-hop.
ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY – The late Jackie Shane was a black American trans soul, rhythm and blues singer. Jackie tells some brave and personal stories that come out in an abstract way.
THEY ALL CAME OUT TO MONTREUX – The Jazz festival is not just about jazz, it’s about the people that came in the 70s and the 80s, notably Claude Nobs the queer eccentric man behind this festival. The footage is amazing.
Strobe Music Film Festival
Aug 9 – Sep 8, Golden Age Cinema & Sydney Opera House
www.groovescooter.com
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