A Lot of Sorrow (2013)
A Lot of Sorrow (2013)
Icelandic artist and musician Ragnar Kjartansson’s often intensely durational performance-based works manifest a rare synthesis of pathos and humor. A Lot of Sorrow is both a music video and an extended concert film, in which Brooklyn-based band the National performs its three-and-a-half minute ballad “Sorrow” on repeat for six hours. The band’s music and lyrics frequently conjure notions of romantic suffering and melancholy—themes common to Kjartansson’s emotive, theatrical work. As the hours pass and fatigue sets in, the musicians subtly alter their song; the original track is always recognizable but is also shown to be elastic and expressive rather than rigid. Kjartansson is sometimes visible in the role of roadie, offering water and food to the performers throughout the concert. Multiple camera angles grant the viewer access to both the perspective of the musicians and that of the audience, as the band and the crowd feed off each other’s energy with every repetition.

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Cast

Matt Berninger Matt Berninger As: Self
Aaron Dessner Aaron Dessner As: Self
Bryce Dessner Bryce Dessner As: Self
Bryan Devendorf Bryan Devendorf As: Self
Scott Devendorf Scott Devendorf As: Self
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Storyline

Icelandic artist and musician Ragnar Kjartansson’s often intensely durational performance-based works manifest a rare synthesis of pathos and humor. A Lot of Sorrow is both a music video and an extended concert film, in which Brooklyn-based band the National performs its three-and-a-half minute ballad “Sorrow” on repeat for six hours. The band’s music and lyrics frequently conjure notions of romantic suffering and melancholy—themes common to Kjartansson’s emotive, theatrical work. As the hours pass and fatigue sets in, the musicians subtly alter their song; the original track is always recognizable but is also shown to be elastic and expressive rather than rigid. Kjartansson is sometimes visible in the role of roadie, offering water and food to the performers throughout the concert. Multiple camera angles grant the viewer access to both the perspective of the musicians and that of the audience, as the band and the crowd feed off each other’s energy with every repetition.


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Certification: Unknown

Details

Genres: Music

Language: English

Release Date: 05 May 2013

Country: IS

Runtime: 369m

Company Credits

Company:

External Links

Cast

Directed By

Writing Credits

Not currently known.

Production Crew

Yoonha Park

Yoonha Park

Production Manager

Edited By

Costume and Makeup

Not currently known.

Sound

Not currently known.

Visual Effects

Not currently known.

Camera

Tómas Örn Tómasson

Tómas Örn Tómasson

Director of Photography

Lighting

Not currently known.

Art Department

Not currently known.

Other Crew

Not currently known.

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