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Director
Niall McCann
Credits
Producers: Nicky Gogan, Paul Welsh
Cinematographer:Julian Schwanitz
Principal Cast
Stuart Braithwaite, Stewart Henderson, Alex Kapranos
Category
Documentary
Chemikal Underground has been Scotland’s premier indie label since its establishment in the 1990s, releasing work by a diverse range of fondly-remembered groups such as Bis, Magoo, and Urusei Yatsura, although the label’s greatest successes came from Arab Strap, Mogwai, and label-founders The Delgados. In the early years of the label, a selection of its bands, including Alex Kapranos’s pre-Franz Ferdinand outfit, traveled to perform in Mauron, a small town in Brittany. In 2015, the musicians retraced their steps, forming the basis of Niall McCann’s documentary, which provides the opportunity to make comparisons between the thriving Scottish DIY music scene of 20 years ago and the difficulties faced by new acts today, given the increasingly mainstream-focused music press and radio. The cast’s reminiscences are engaging and often extremely funny, and as one would imagine, the live footage and soundtrack are exceptional. Notes by Kevin Coyne
100 minutes, Ireland, UK, 2016, Colour
BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD BLACKBERRY 13:00, 18:10
KIDNAPPED 15:20
LOVE LIES BLEEDING 15:40, 20:40
PERFECT DAYS 13:00, 18:00
THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN 13:50, 16:10, 18:30, 20:50
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE 20.30
The IFI is supported by The Arts Council