This disarming documentary takes a bemused look at the sleepy German farm town of Wacken, which once a year wakes up to the din of a music festival attracting 40,000 headbangers. Director Cho Sung-hyung (born in South Korea but now living and working in Germany) plays her culture-clash card wisely by focusing on the town’s inhabitants and only gradually introducing elements of the festival.

Wacken’s population is aging, as youngsters leave for greener pastures and oldsters struggle to maintain small agricultural concerns against competition from factory farms. Opinions vary about the annual onslaught of ‘gruesome music’ and long-haired, black-clad guests, though most citizens happily lay aside any personal prejudice to take advantage of the brief, surging cash flow. A vanishing way of rural life is the real subject here, with glimpses of festival attendees and performers reserved for the last couple of reels. Attractive cinematography highlights the nicely assembled package.—Dennis Harvey, Variety.