Mistaken for Strangers

On the surface, Mistaken for Strangers would seem to be a standard tour rockumentary, in this case following Ohio indie outfit The National during the mainstream breakthrough brought about by their 2010 album, High Violet. Under the lead of Tom Berninger, the immature metalhead brother of the band’s frontman Matt, what one actually gets with this hugely entertaining film is a candid look into sibling strife, creative crossroads, responsibility, and the very nature of the artistic process. Basically, don’t expect a film about The National.

Tom was invited to be a roadie during a year-long tour and decided it was the perfect opportunity to make a documentary about the band, only for the completely haphazard nature of his pursuit to drive Matt and the job opportunity away. What he crafts out of the experience with the final, meta-textual version of this film is touching and actually quite smart in its own unique ways. In contrast to its ostensible subject’s music rooted in tension, fear and anxiety, it’s also frequently hilarious. [Josh Slater-Williams]

Read Lewis Porteous' review of Mistaken for Strangers