Beatiful Frenzy
With an incredible amount of energy The Ex jump back and forth on stage maintaintaining intense concentration while still having fun. Emerging from the underground circuit where they began in 1979, The Ex is a small but steady star in the independent music community.
The film is about making music without paying attention to how things are 'supposed' to sound. While the major labels are offering small independent bands huge amounts of money, The Ex consciously chose to stay away from the industry and do things their own way. For the members of The Ex 'punk' is a way of living, simply refusing to participate in the 'grind'. This quintet from Amsterdam runs its own label and books its own concerts in a steadfastly independent way.
The band has continually developed its musical skills, creating an ambling rhythm-dominated sound. Over the years The Ex has worked with some of the brightest lights of indie rock and avant-garde; Fugazi, Tortoise, Sonic Youth guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, the late cellist and improviser Tom Cora, jazzdrummer Han Bennink and recording engineer / Shellac guitarist Steve Albini. The Ex has incorporated many new ideas and influences while retaining distinctively their own identity; reason enough for a documentary about the longest lasting independent band of the Netherlands.
Live The Ex are a force of nature, they play a whirling rock, driven by Katrin's rolling syncopation and G.W Sok's inspired half spoken-half sung vibrant vocals. Terrie and Andy, the two guitarists, spin and bounce off one another. Their entwined guitars cut with startling sharpness , enthusiastic interplay and constant improvisation. Luc and Katrin bump and clatter with bobbling bass lines and relentless rhythms. It's intense, irresistible, unstoppable.
With modest means, the Swedish directors have produced an exclusive and perceptive portrait of the band. Filmed on location over a two year period on tour in Europe and the U.S.A in squats, clubs and avant-garde jazz festivals, during rehearsals and at home with each member of the band. Interspersed with hilarious archive material and poetic sequences, the film gives a vivid and sparkling impression of this extraordinary band.
Directed and Produced by:
Christina Hallström & Mandra Wabäck
Photography and Sound Recording
Christina Hallström & Mandra Wabäck
Editor
Katarina Türler
Sound Editor
Lex van Engelen
Concert Sound Recording
Colin McLean Zlaya Hadzic Dolf Planteydt
Colorist Renzo Scanu
Translation In Vision Subtitling
Print Shop Primavera
This film was sponsored by Café-Cantina, De Groene Olifant, Café Soundgarden, Drukkerij Primavera Grafisch Papier, The Swedish Filminstitute, ThuisKopie Fonds,
The Ex:
Andy-guitar
Katrin-drums,
vocals
Luc-bass
Terrie-guitar
G.W.Sok-vocals
The script for this film was developed during the IDFA scriptwriting workshop 1998, held by Paul Cohen.
Thanks to everybody along the road who made this film possible.
Screenings Beautiful Frenzy
2001
première
nov 26, 27 International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, Netherlands
dec 16 ADM, Netherlands
2002
jan 26 ACU, Utrecht, Netherlands
feb 17 alternative bookmarket, Plantagedoklaan Amsterdam, Netherlands
feb 28 Viewpoint Documenatry Film Festival, Gent, Belgium
march 10 New York Underground Film Festival, USA
march 20 Pasthei, ACU, Utrecht, Netherlands
march 30 Muziekclub 4 AD Diksmuide, Belgium
april 13 Filmhuis Cavia, Amsterdam, Netherlands
may 19 University of Chicago, Smartmuseum of art, USA
june 6 University of Chicago, Smartmuseum of art, USA
june 26 art gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
aug 27, 28 Chicago Underground Film Festival, USA
aug 28 Festival Nights of little Film, Subotica,Yugoslavia
sept 20 Cinematexas, Austin, USA
sept 24 Sound Unseen Film and Music Festival, Minnesota,
sept 28 Fylkingen Film Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
sept Sound and Fury, New York, USA
nov 6 Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2003
feb 28 Noisepop, San Fransisco, USA
feb 28 Rome Independent Film Festival, Rome Italy
may Washington Underground Film Festival, USA
aug Subterraneancinema, Florida, Verenigde Staten
sept Antimatter Film Festival, Victoria, Canada 2004
aug 19 Lost film Festival 2004, Philadelphia, USA
sep Antimatter Film Festival, Victoria, Canada
2004
aug Lost Film Festival,Philadelphia, USA
nov Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Austin,Texas, USA
nov The Ex 25th Anniversary Tour, France and 28/29 Paleis voor de Schone Kunsten, Brussels
2005
april The Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, USA
may 20 years Slachthof Wels festival, Austria
may The DVDrome selection (curated by Floris van Hoof) presented at Witte de With
Centre for Contemporary Art during RIFF Rotterdam International Film Festival
nov Kassablanca, Jena, Germany
nov Bastard, Berlin, Germany
dec Cinema Nova, Brussels, Belgium
Broadcasting:
2003 feb 23 Kunstkanaal/Artchannel
2002 Slovenian Tv
2003 may 16 3to12 Web Tv, VPRO
Publications:
2005 feb/march Gonzo Circus nr 67
2005 jan The Wire
2003 july 2,5,6 MEERtv made a reportage over the Impakt Festival
2003, broadcasted in Amsterdam, Bellissima/Salto
2002 oct Beautiful frenzy, Lance Jchurch, Maximum rock and Roll
2002 sept Beautiful frenzy, Nick Phillips, City Pages, Chicago 2002 sept Beter bij de buren, het opvallende distributietraject van onze film, DIFA
2002 june Vieuwpoint documentaire filmfestival Gent, Nieuwsbrief, Nederlandse Filmfonds
2002 jan The Targets shoot first, Jessica Winter, The Village Voice, New York
2002 jan No or low budget, terug aan de zee en beautiful frenzy, Jos Werkhoven, NFTVM
2001 oct Beautiful frenzy, G.W. Sok, The Ex newsletter
2001 nov 28 De bezoeker van, Wendy K., IDFA dagkrant 2001 nov 23 De prettige waanzin van The Ex, Freek Kallenberg, Ravage
|
|
|
