Broder Daniel Forever (2009) Reviews

• Poetic, very nice photography, sweet music, being an unusual documentary

  pivic2009-07-27

  Yes, I am blind. I must confess this film brought forth a little Broder Daniel-revival in me. This documentary focuses on a Swedish band as they're quitting, following the suicide of guitarist Anders Göthberg. The documentary poetically follows the band as they gang way towards their last-ever concert, at the Way Out West festival in 2008. While a few of the pictures from the gig itself - especially, in my mind, one of a girl crying while singing along to the band's song "Work" - are among the most beautiful I've ever seen in a music documentary, this is no film for those expecting a chronological walk-through of the band's career. I think front man Henrik Berggren can, at times, behave as through he wears a quite long stick through his behind (especially when saying something as ludicrous as (paraphrased and translated by yours truly) "When we started out, there were no bands that spoke through the heart, saying anything that they truly meant") the film-makers have done a lot with this. Apart from the sometimes brilliant, sometimes boring music, the photography is excellent, and the band's humor comes through. The documentary makes the members come alive. And the myth lives on.