Showing with closed captions
July Talk built their fan base through relentless touring and high-energy shows, which ground to a halt during the COVID pandemic lockdowns. Forced to pause and take stock, band leaders Leah Fay and Peter Dreimanis are determined to respond to the moment and plans come together for a one-of-a-kind drive-in theatre show in August 2020. Larger in scale than any of their previous engagements, it was filled with professional and personal risks. Would anyone show up? Could they pull it off safely? In keeping with the band’s visual monochromatic aesthetic, the black-and-white film grain captures intimate moments as Fay and Dreimanis develop a concert manifesto that aligns with their politics while anticipation builds for their epic event. The pent-up energy for a shared common experience simmers, then explodes off the screen in this electrifying and unforgettable concert film that captures the essence of its time. Alexander Rogalski