French filmmaker Caroline Troubetzkoy became fascinated by Russian punks The Oz after hearing their version of John Lennon’s God. The four rough-and-ready Russians turned out not to be easy objects of affection, however. As eternal contrarians, the punks were good at snarling and behaving in a reckless and incendiary manner.
Troubetzkoy nevertheless decided to film the group for a period of two years. What starts out as a road movie ends up a psychological, anthropological essay by the filmmaker. The trips in the company of her unpredictable subjects regularly get out of hand, encompassing every emotion on the scale.
The contrast between the beautifully shot background images and the everyday goings-on is as manic as the band itself. This material is supplemented by historical images giving context and explanation. Rock on Bones gives a contemporary face to the Russian alternative music scene – a particularly humorous, uneasy portrait of a band that eschews both success and obscurity.
Film details
- Country of production
- France
- Year
- 2012
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2015
- Length
- 120"
- Medium/Format
- File
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