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Music

New PK14 Rock Doc Asks: Are We Really So Far From The Madhouse?

Somewhere between the gritty authenticity of D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back and the general WTF-ness of Asian cinema lies Li Hongqi's new P.K.14 documentary, Are We Really So Far From the Madhouse?

Somewhere between the gritty authenticity of D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back and the general WTF-ness of Asian cinema lies Li Hongqi's new P.K.14 documentary, Are We Really So Far From the Madhouse?

Unlike most rock docs, Madhouse doesn't concern itself with "world exclusive" interviews with the session tambourinist's high school teacher waxing poetica about she "could tell from the way that he tapped on his desk that he would make it as a musician one day." Rather, Li forgoes words entirely, dubbing over all dialogue with the sounds of farm animals and ambient noise. What's left is a series of sequences showing the groundbreaking Chinese band going from tour van, to nameless city, to anonymous audience, to nondescript hotel, lather, rinse, repeat, all set to the quartet's iconic post-punk catalog. Worlds away from Spinal Tap, Madhouse edges way more towards listless than lavish.

The doc most recently made a splash at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and, while there's no info yet as to its next screening, keep an eye out for your opportunity to enter the mad world of one of China's most influential rock bands.