Festivals - Sundance Film Festival 2021 : The sparks brothers will have its world premiere

By Mulder, 06 january 2021

Sparks is your favorite band’s favorite band, and soon to be yours too. Whether or not you’re aware of it, Sparks likely had a hand in something you’re fond of. This is a band that has been in the background of almost every art form across the last 50 years. Growing up in the ’60s, Los Angeles brothers Ron and Russell got by on a heavy diet of popcorn matinees and pop music until the spotlight of school talent shows illuminated their way on a musical journey that has so far spawned 25 studio albums.

It should come as no surprise to those familiar with the mind behind such comedies as Baby Driver that Edgar Wright’s debut documentary, The Sparks Brothers, is an absolute delight. Wright’s spirited vision brings five decades of invention to life through nutty animations and interviews with a who’s who of cool, and by digging deeply into the band’s rich, career-spanning archival. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, this charming love letter to innovation, music, and two rebel artists just might make this the biggest year yet for the brothers named Sparks.

Synopsis :
Documentary profiles brothers Russell and Ron Mael, who made up the influential but never chart-topping L.A. pop-rock band Sparks.

The sparks brothers (United Kingdom)
Directed by Edgar Wright
Produced by Nira Park, Edgar Wright, George Hencken, Laura Richardson
Archival Producer : Kate Griffiths
Music Supervisor : Gary Welch
Line Producer : Serena Kennedy
Associate Producer : Leo Thompson
Animators : Joseph Wallace, Greg McLeod
Cinematography : Jake Polonsky
Edited by Paul Trewartha
Production companies : Complete Fiction
Distributed by MRC Non-Fiction (https://www.mrcentertainment.com)
Release date : January 31, 2021 (Sundance)
Running time : 135 minutes

Premiere : jan. 31 - 12:00am // Second screening : feb. 1 - 4:00pm (local time)

(Source : press release)