Update: You can preorder the DVD at Insound.
Photo: Ed Banger Records’ Pedro Winter (Busy P) (left) and directors So Me, Roman Gavras at IFC Theatre NYC.
The same night as the Justice DJ set last Thursday, October 30 at Webster Hall, the duo’s new documentary made it’s North American debut at New York’s IFC Theater.
Who knew that in a documentary of their March ‘08 US tour, one or both of the duo would get arrested, get married in Vegas, or awkwardly serenade a major rock icon with one of his own songs? Who knew that the strangest, most enjoyable characters to meet would be their serious tour manager Bouchon, with his comical obsession with guns, and their bus driver Roger, a traditional heartland American with an uncommon ability to sing at extremely low frequencies?
While A Cross The Universe never takes itself too seriously, it appears that directors Roman Gavras, So Me and Justice themselves did attempt to weave in a few larger threads. First and foremost, as one New York fan says on camera, “these guys are the new rock ‘n roll.”
The film succeeded in depicting the French DJ/production duo of Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé as the new rock stars, at least. Contrasted with an elderly folk singer on a bleak street corner and a Vegas sign trumpeting that “UB-40 played here,” Justice, with their ability to make crowds go absolutely crazy during shows and attract young women afterward, look the part. Despite their traditional [cliche] drive down Hollywood Boulevard with the top of their convertible down, it seemed natural for the appropriate accompaniment to be the Planisphère suite, with its Metallica-like solos, rather than a guitar solo from one of the traditional American bands that may have inspired it.
The live footage is enjoyable, but it fails to offer a quality and perspective that would easily sway a Justice newcomer. However, too much footage could have alienated some, or bored those who have seen these shows in better venues than a theater or their home. Instead, the behind-the-scenes aspects of touring are the focus, and the audience is fortunate for it. There is time to view both the beauty of America’s landscapes and the crime and poverty in many of its cities. There is the chance to get to know Rosnay and Augé’s subdued sense of humor, marvel at the level of partial-to-total female nudity they constantly experience, and also hear their beautiful piano playing skills.
A Cross The Universe does not attempt to directly summarize the career of Justice and explain their rise to international fame. Instead, it simply shocks the newcomer into accepting the success of this new breed of electronic star while giving viewers the chance to get to know them and experience their very unusual professional life and the US alongside them.
You can buy A Cross The Universe as a preorder now from Insound.
Audio & Transcript: Ed Banger Records head Pedro Winter and directors So Me, Roman Gavras (photo above) introduce the film
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Pedro Winter: Welcome. My name is Pedro and I have a music label called Ed Banger records, for those who know. And I’m pleased to present you tonight the first ever DVD that we’re gonna release. It’s a documentary about Justice on tour in North America. We shot it in March 2008. Maybe some of you experienced the live shows. And we asked our firends Roman Garvas and So Me to direct this documentary.
[Silence]
Thank you very much for welcoming them [applause, laughter] with all this love and…
And it’s un-proposed that I decide to be on the right side and not front of you… just… [Two audience members walk into the theater entrance, past them.] Oh, popcorn! You missed the speech.
Audience member: Sorry! [Laughter]
Pedro: Eh, So Me and Roman Gavras, please introduce us to this little documentary, or show us some love, or something.
So Me: Hello! So basically this is a documentary dealing with a bunch of guys going on tour in the US for three weeks. And uh, well, I let you guys appreciate. And I’ll pass it over to Roman. Enjoy.
Roman Gavras: Hello. Good evening. It’s a documentary about love and understanding of the other. Of your fellow citizen. I hope you enjoy it and it’s a very nice film and we’re very happy.
Pedro: And, of course, this DVD and audio CD will be released end of November at the best retail sale price of 14 dollars, 99. Thanks to Ed Banger Records and Atlantic Records and [?] music, and our cousin(?) of Downtown Records–they are part of the package. Enjoy. Switch off the phone. Don’t eat too much popcorn. And … au revior
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Justice - Planisphère Part 1
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Justice - Planisphère Part 2
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Justice - Planisphère Part 3
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Justice - Planisphère Final
Thanks to Asian Dan and Buzz En Direkt for the Planisphère MP3s which are available for download here and here.
