Sound and vision: inspiring music documentaries at IDFA

Music documentary films have always struck a special chord, offering intimate glimpses into the creative journeys, philosophical ponderings, and social defiance that often beat at the heart of their subjects. At IDFA this year, the selection of music documentaries spans a spectrum as broad as it is bold, crossing genres, eras, countries and perspectives to explore music’s extraordinary power to inspire, disrupt, and connect. From avant-garde electronic innovators to political provocateurs, this lineup captures music as an art form in perpetual transformation, pushing cultural and personal boundaries alike.

At the center of this series are figures who have either redefined their art form or wielded it as a force against the established order. From John Lennon’s radical vision in One to One: Yoko & John to Peaches’ unapologetically sexual performance art in Teaches of Peaches, each film encapsulates the idea of the musician as a catalyst for change, one whose work both reflects and reshapes the world around them.

In One to One: Yoko & John, we find John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1972, at the height of their activism. Their art is not only a creative collaboration but a statement against the political establishment, giving voice to anti-war sentiments and civil rights activism through concerts and protests. Here, music is an instrument of defiance.

In TWST / Things We Said Today, Andrei Ujică captures the cultural frenzy of 1965 New York as the Beatles prepare for their Shea Stadium show. Through archival footage, he contrasts the lighthearted excitement of Beatlemania with scenes from the Watts riots in Los Angeles, highlighting the tension between pop culture and the era’s social upheavals. Two young voices—a Beatles fan and an aspiring writer—narrate their experiences, adding a personal, poetic layer to this snapshot of a pivotal moment in American history.

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat is a vibrant exploration of colonial history, presented as both a painful narrative and a lively jazz concert. Director Johan Grimonprez skillfully unravels the decolonization of Congo, revealing the assassination of Patrice Lumumba in 1961 and the involvement of Belgian and American governments. By intertwining jazz music with political intrigue, the film paints a powerful picture of colonialism, racism, and the ongoing struggle over Congolese resources.

For figures like Brian Eno in Eno and Leon Theremin in Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, music is more than a form of expression—it’s a laboratory for experimentation. Brian Eno’s journey explores how this former rock star became the pioneering sound sculptor of ambient music, pushing the boundaries of what music can do and how it can make us feel. In creating soundscapes that encourage introspection, Eno’s work defies conventional song structures, encouraging audiences to embrace the abstract and the atmospheric.

In Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey, the eponymous inventor’s story takes us back to the early 20th century, where the theremin—an eerie, almost otherworldly instrument—opened new doors for electronic music. His invention would go on to inspire generations of musicians, serving as an emblem of early technological curiosity and innovation. 

The Water Eyed Boy by Lírio Ferreira and Carolina Sá offers a close look at groundbreaking Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal, celebrated for his experimental approach to music. Known as the "Wizard" in Brazilian music, he pushes the boundaries of sound, using unconventional instruments—such as teapots, toys, and even water—as part of his compositions. His unique blend of jazz, Brazilian folk, and avant-garde techniques made him a pioneer, inspiring musicians worldwide with his creativity and fearless exploration of new sonic possibilities.

Space is the Place takes us on a cosmic journey with Sun Ra, a jazz pioneer whose Afrofuturistic vision blurs the line between musician and mythmaker. For Sun Ra, jazz was a form of spiritual and cultural freedom, his music an act of reclamation that sought to transport African American consciousness to a cosmic, liberated reality. IIn this film, Sun Ra’s mystique turns into a message, taking his avant-garde jazz on a journey that pushes beyond earthly limits and explores the idea of belonging.

Peaches, in Teaches of Peaches, brings raw energy, combining music with bold statements on gender and sexuality. Her performances defy traditional norms, merging sound, politics, and unfiltered expression. Similarly, Sympathy for the Devil, Jean-Luc Godard's documentary on the Rolling Stones, captures a countercultural spirit; the band’s music reflects the disillusionment and defiance of the 1960s.

Both Peaches and the Stones use music as a platform to challenge social conventions, creating art that confronts norms and celebrates unapologetic self-expression with a lasting impact.

In The Tunes by Pablo Guarise and Paradise by Ana Rieper, music acts as a unifying thread that shapes cultural identity and community bonds. Both films show how music is more than entertainment—it’s a way for people to connect and preserve collective memories. The Tunes spotlights the love of regular customers at Café La Perle in Brussels for entertaining each other by singing chansons and karaoke—to reminisce or to forget, to break the drudgery of everyday life, or simply for fun. Music serves as a way to forge friendships at the bar.

Paradise presents a dynamic video collage, described by its makers as a "popular symphony," captures the soul of Brazil and its inhabitants in words and visuals. The history of this South American country is marked by oppression and defiance, by resilience and solidarity. Music is the motor propelling this rhythmic, often ironic, and sometimes horrifying impressionistic blend of archive and new footage, interviews, voice-overs, commercials, scenes from television series and surveillance camera images.

For more documentaries about creativity and art, check out the Pathway 'Art and the Artist'. 

This pathway is supported by the Brook Foundation.