Though music documentaries usually aren’t as controversial and shocking when they're about a band that’s still together, it’s becoming more common for musical artists to appear in promotion of the films that tell they're story, performing a set and giving fans and others a unique experience that most other movies can’t match.
A press release issued today reports the Tribeca Film Festival will host the film Mistaken for Strangers, a documentary about the indie rock band The National and chronicles their biggest tour yet. Director Tom Berninger, younger brother of lead singer Matt Berninger, took on roadie duties during the tour while crafting the documentary on the side. Following the film’s Tribeca premiere on Wednesday, April 17, the band will appear for a special performance. Chances are they’ll be playing their single that the film is named after.
The National is comprised of singer Matt, guitarist twin brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner, as well as a second set of twin brothers Scott and Bryan Devendorf on bass and drums, respectively. They formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 but soon moved out to Brooklyn, New York, where they’ve amassed a large fanbase consistently touring in support for their five acclaimed albums of dark and moody rock,
“We’re really happy to premiere this movie at Tribeca, as New York has been home to us for these past 15 years,” said Matt Beringer. “I was happy to give my brother whatever access he needed. I just didn’t expect this movie to include shower scenes.”
Though Tribeca’s Chief Creative Officer Geoff Gilmore calls the film a “highly personal and lighthearted story about brotherly love,” the film wasn’t without its own share of muted controversy, as Tom’s incessant recording causes a bit of drama, but all is well in the end. Take a listen to the film’s titular song below.
The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival will run from April 17 -28, a month before The National’s next album is set to be released. Tribeca’s entire film slate will be released on March 5-6.
