For those who were not among the 20,000 fans inside one of the band’s two nights at the O2 Arena last year, MUBI has come to provide the one night only experience that is “PULP: What Do You Do for an Encore?”
Directed by Garth Jennings, helmer of both Sundance gem “Son of Rambow” and the Illumination Pictures franchise “Sing,” the bonus appeal of the concert film centered on one of the pioneers associated with the 1990s Britpop scene is the decades of archival footage interspersed throughout the project, including an exclusive clip provided to IndieWire.
In it, Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker explains the rationale behind the band’s change in tune after the success of “This Is Hardcore,” saying the pivotal 1998 album “was like being in a very dark tunnel. And it seemed not a good idea to go any further down this dark tunnel. And in a way we had to turn around and walk back towards the light and then take a different path.”
In a different interview, Cocker elaborating on the band’s process, tells the interviewer, “You have to wait. You have to wait until a bit of time’s gone past since your last album and then just kind of think to yourself, well, is there anything else I want to say or is that it? And you can’t force that. You just have to find out whether that feeling comes or not.”
In addition to the 20 songs performed throughout “What Do You Do for an Encore?,” the film features small bright moments between Cocker and band members like Candida Doyle having a laugh about a host using the unfortunate phrase “top yourself.” And another where he promotes Doyle’s tapestry work, as the film flashes to more activities band members do outside of their Pulp duties.
Building upon the momentum of its massive reunion tour, “PULP: What Do You Do for an Encore?” is a deeper look at a band best known for their wit, eccentricities, and heart that somehow led them down a path from Sheffield misfits to megastars in the United Kingdom, and even the world.
See the full exclusive clip of “PULP: What Do You Do for an Encore?” above. The film will premiere in theaters across the United States for one night only on September 24. Afterwards, it will be available on MUBI on September 25.
See the film’s website for ticket information and international showtimes.
