VIFF 2014: The Past Is a Grotesque Animal follows the madness
The Past Is a Grotesque Animal (USA)
Some people take being a rock 'n’ roll front man a little too much to heart, and Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes takes it further than most. A pansexual sylph who’s also (sometimes) a dedicated family man, Barnes shows a remarkable ability to throw long-time bandmates under the tour bus and still surprise them even when they’ve seen it happen to others. New director Jason Miller’s 80-minute doc makes a good case for why Barnes’ indie-pop vision—part Peter Gabriel, part Alice Cooper—has attracted a fervent following. But it probably could have offered a few longer pieces of the Georgia band’s diverse music for noninitiates.
Vancity, September 25 (4:45 p.m.); International Village, October 3 (9 p.m.)
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