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After doing last year’s film festival circuit, The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights (2009) is opening at The Royal for a week-long run beginning Friday, February 26th.  Now, you may not be an aficionado of rock tour documentaries, nor a particular fan of the White Stripes, but don’t let that dissuade you.  As the ‘Great White North’ in the title indicates, the film is devoted entirely to their 2007 tour of Canada!  Cool, eh?

Under Great White Northern Lights includes behind-the-scene stuff as well as concert footage in halls, buses, and cafes, and also playing for Native elders.  I don’t see many musical documentaries, and I don’t have piles of rock concert DVDs.  But there are some exceptional films in this genre, and if the trailer is any indication, I have a suspicion that this might be one.

The LA Times wrote that this film ‘can credibly be included alongside such canonical rock-docs as Gimme Shelter and Don’t Look Back‘, and that makes me more likely to go see it.  These documentaries, of the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan tours respectively, were landmark films that launched the entire genre of ‘rock-u-mentary’.  And director Emmett Malloy isn’t new to this stuff – he’s been honing his skills on concerts and musician docos for some years, having worked with such bands as Oasis, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, and Wolfmother.

I suppose I should offer a wee disclosure here – I am a fan of The White Stripes.  I’ve never seen them in concert, nor do I own all their albums.  But I have a lot of respect for the band and their musical virtuosity.  They write most of their music, but also have fun with covers of Tegan and Sara and Dolly Parton songs.  Jack White produced country music legend (and Coal Miner’s Daughter) Loretta Lynn‘s 2004 album, ‘Van Lear Rose’.  The band seems as equally comfortable with country, rock, and blues.  I think it would be fascinating to see them on tour, in their element.

So get down to The Royal (608 College St), lay down your $10 ($8 for students, seniors) and watch some music documentary from right here on our own soil.  The Olympics are gonna be all over soon, so what else will you have to do!?

Screening times vary: February 26th & 27th @ 9:15pm, February 28th @ 4:30pm & 7pm, March 1st @ 7pm, March 2nd @ 9:30pm, March 3rd & 4th @ 9pm

If you need more information, give The Royal a call at 416-534-5252