Revitalizing Nonfiction Cinema: A Fresh Perspective on Pavement’s Legacy
In recent years, the landscape of nonfiction filmmaking has faced significant challenges, with funding increasingly concentrated on a narrow spectrum of topics such as true crime stories and celebrity biographies. Amidst this creative drought, director Alex Ross Perry offers a compelling and inventive exploration of the band Pavement in his film “Pavements”. This documentary-style piece balances self-awareness with a sharp, playful tone, transforming the typical music biopic into a layered cinematic experience.
The Cultural Impact of Pavement: A Brief Revisit
For those familiar with the 1990s indie scene, Pavement’s influence is undeniable. Led by California-born Stephen Malkmus, the band emerged as a quintessential lo-fi phenomenon, drawing inspiration from icons like The Velvet Underground and Alex Chilton to craft a raw, unpretentious sound that defied mainstream conventions. Over the course of the decade, Pavement transitioned from underground cult favorites to indie darlings, nearing mainstream recognition before disbanding in 1999. Their farewell was marked by a notorious, mud-slinging performance at Lollapalooza, symbolizing their rebellious spirit. Despite modest commercial success, Pavement’s albums became emblematic of Generation X’s sense of alienation, echoing the cultural zeitgeist of the era much like the film “Reality Bites” did visually and thematically.
Documenting a Reunion: A New Narrative Approach
“Pavements” captures the band’s 2022 reunion tour, offering a nostalgic yet fresh perspective that transcends cliché. Perry’s film cleverly sidesteps the typical “back-in-the-day” reminiscing by weaving in inventive storytelling techniques. While the band rehearses for their upcoming shows, a separate storyline unfolds in New York, where a cast of characters prepares an energetic musical inspired by Pavement’s seminal album “Slanted and Enchanted”. Simultaneously, Perry is filming his own polished biopic reminiscent of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, adding layers of meta-commentary. Meanwhile, dedicated fans are establishing a bespoke Pavement museum, a fitting tribute considering Malkmus’s past work as a security guard at the Whitney Museum of American Art, alongside notable figures like the late David Berman of Silver Jews.
Blurring Reality and Fiction: A Cinematic Kaleidoscope
“Pavements” evolves into a complex mosaic of narratives, blending documentary footage with fictionalized elements to challenge perceptions of truth. The film employs split screens and vintage videotape aesthetics to emphasize the fluid boundary between past and present, fact and fiction. As the narrative unfolds, Perry subtly reveals his intentions-questioning the very nature of memory and authenticity in music history. The inclusion of actors such as Zoe Lister-Jones and Michael Esper, portraying characters in the musical, alongside appearances by Jason Schwartzman and Fred Hechinger in the biopic, invites viewers to ponder the line between reality and performance.
Celebrating the Band’s Mythos with a Playful, Subversive Touch
By showcasing clips from a humorous For Your Consideration screening of his biopic, Perry signals his goal: to craft a tribute to Pavement that is as irreverent, playful, and occasionally provocative as the band itself. The film benefits from the expertise of filmmakers Lance Bangs and Robert Kolodny, whose editing skills-previously demonstrated in the metafictional “Kate Plays Christine”-are instrumental in shaping this layered narrative. The result is a film that resonates deeply with Pavement’s most devoted fans while inviting skeptics to reconsider the band’s cultural significance.
A Community-Centric Tribute: Nostalgia and Curiosity
For Pavement enthusiasts, the band’s legacy is a shared cultural touchstone-an unspoken code among fans. Perry’s film caters to this community, celebrating their formative musical moments and capturing the band’s rebellious spirit. With a treasure trove of concert footage, interviews, and rare clips, “Pavements” functions as a comprehensive archive, appealing primarily to die-hard fans but also serving as an intriguing entry point for newcomers. Its layered approach mirrors the secret handshake-like camaraderie that has long defined Pavement’s fanbase.
Concluding Reflections: A Bold, Creative Triumph
As Perry’s multifaceted project reaches its climax, the playful deception and dynamic storytelling become irresistibly engaging. Viewers find themselves emotionally moved, contemplating Pavement’s true influence-whether or not it warrants the legendary status it has achieved. Perry’s inventive vision and unwavering dedication to his craft elevate “Pavements” beyond mere documentary, transforming it into a vibrant celebration of music, memory, and myth-making. Ultimately, this film exemplifies how creative risk-taking can breathe new life into the documentary genre, proving that even in a constrained funding environment, bold storytelling can thrive.
Unrated. Screening at AFI Silver Theatre. Contains brief references to smoking, drug use, profanity, and nudity. Duration: 128 minutes.
