Devo
United States, United Kingdom, 2024: 93 minutes: Canadian Premieredescription
An exploration of the gloriously radical spirit that is Devo – a rare band founded by a philosophy; a Dada experiment of high art meets low, hellbent on infiltrating American popular culture.
Through never-before-seen archival and interviews with Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Mothersbaugh, and Jerry Casale, acclaimed filmmaker Chris Smith (WHAM!, FYRE, AMERICAN MOVIE, and JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND) relishes in the highs, lows, surreal moments, and incredible performances of a 50-year career, embracing the spectacle of the band from their lo-fi beginnings to pioneers of the music video in the early days of MTV’s cultural dominance. Finding mainstream success at the height of 1980s consumerism, Devo soundtracked the "De-Evolution" they’d long predicted – and influenced a 21st century they’d have never believed.
AFTER PARTY!
Please join us after the screening at The Palomino for a night of Devo cover bands, and other live music & DJ's. Doors open 8pm/ show 9pm. More details here!
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Sundance 2024
Sheffield International Documentary Festival 2024
Nashville Film Festival 2024
Cleveland International Film Festival 2024
DIRECTOR'S BIO
Chris Smith helms Library Films, which produces and finances premiere documentary projects. Chris' projects include the Emmy-nominated documentaries JIM & ANDY, FYRE, TIGER KING, and the Emmy-winning 100 FOOT WAVE. His first documentary, AMERICAN MOVIE, won the Grand Jury prize at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Other projects include OPERATION VARSITY BLUES and the series BAD VEGAN, along with the newly released SR., BRANSON and WHAM!. His latest feature, DEVO, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
press for Devo
"DEVO is a music doc that matches the tone and spirit of its subject, bursting with energy and creativity."- RogerEbert.com
"By the time it settles into a music-doc groove ... you’re already in a Devo state of mind: perverse, critical, pop culturally cracked and politically conscious."- Rolling Stone
details
Music / Documentary
English93 minutes
credits
Director
Chris Smith
Executive Producers
Mandy Chang
William Kennedy
Stuart Souter
Kathy Rivkin Daum
Charlie Cohen
Stacy Smith
Stuart Goldstein
Vanessa Case
Producers
Chris Smith
Danny Gabai
Anita Greenspan
Chris Holmes
Cinematographer
Chris Smith
Cast
Mark Mothersbaugh
Jerry Casale
Bob Mothersbaugh
Music
Mark Mothersbaugh