Once Were Brothers is a musical blast from the past (Credit: TIFF).
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band is a confessional, cautionary and mesmerizing tale of Toronto-born guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson and one of the most enduring groups in popular music history, The Band.
When asked why they brought in this particular film to Saint John, Co-Chair of TIFF Film Circuit Saint John, Pauline Cronin answered, “We’re living in the golden age of music documentaries. They’ve never been better.”
Daniel Roher’s documentary, which opened the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, combines archival footage, photography and The Band’s most iconic songs to tell their story, from humble beginnings to stardom on the world stage as Bob Dylan’s backing band in the Sixties.
With The Band, Robertson essentially created the genre of Americana Music. Music’s biggest names Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Peter Gabriel bring further illustrate Robertson and The Band’s continuing influence and admiration.
“I have always been a Robbie Robertson/The Band fan; he is a Canadian icon, adds Co-Chair Mary Buffett. “I felt he has an interesting story to tell from his earlier life, and the influence he had on music.”
Robertson has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music hall of Fame as part of the Band. He is also known as a film sound producer and composer and his partnership with Martin Scorsese, beginning with the “rockumentary” The Last Waltz (1978).
Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band will be screened for one night only Wednesday, February 26th. For more information about TIFF Film Circuit Saint John and its screenings, you can check out their website and Facebook page.
