From Her to Eternity, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' first album, runs about forty-four minutes. This short film–part of a comprehensive series (Do You Love Me Like I Love You), runs about forty minutes. It consists of band members, fans, journalists–everyone except Nick Cave–sitting in front of black and talking to the camera. Directors Forsyth and Pollard clearly told the interviewees to look directly into the camera. Some do, some don't; either way, the effect is startling.

The film has a little narrative. The end of one band, the start of another. Then it moves through the tracks on the album–Forsyth and Pollard don't just not add in music, as it would distract from the interviewees, they don't identify the interviewees until the end credits. If the viewer isn't familiar with early eighties British and Australian punk… good luck.

It's long, often boring, but the interviewees keep it engaging.

Recommended

CREDITS

Edited, photographed, directed and produced by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard; released by Mute Records.