Delving into the legacy of US rockers Dinosaur Jr, this dynamic documentary beautifully balances the giddiness of a fan and the warmth of a close friend. Such deftness is perhaps due to the fact that director Philipp Virus is the brother-in-law of J Mascis, who, along with Lou Barlow and Murph, made up the band’s original lineup. It is a portrait of a groundbreaking period in American music that also doubles as a poignant rumination on friendship and personal growth.
Formed in the mid-1980s, the original trio – two of whom were high-school friends – had a ragged wildness, straddling heavy metal and punk rock. Reserved and shy offstage, the three members were uncomfortable with the social side of the music business. Nevertheless, in spite of a slow start, Dinosaur Jr gradually moved from the underground to be more commercially viable, touring with the likes of Sonic Youth and Nirvana. With success, however, came creative compromises and internal conflicts, triggering the departure of Barlow and Murph.
Amid such intense ups and downs, what makes Freakscene so engaging is its decision to put Dinosaur Jr’s music front and centre, with numerous audio and live performance excerpts. Interviews with the trio, and other artists such as Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, are shot in an unpolished style that mimics VHS rips of the band’s filmed gigs. The most moving movements are captured during a reunion concert celebrating Dinosaur Jr’s 30th anniversary; now older and mellower, the men have put aside their differences. All that matters is the music.
• Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr is released on 1 October in cinemas.
