The indie rock band Pavement has been the subject of a new experimental documentary called “Pavements.” Directed by Alex Ross Perry, the film takes an unconventional approach to telling the band’s story. “Pavements” weaves together various elements to create a unique portrait of Pavement. It features footage from the band’s recent reunion tour, their second since breaking up in 2000.
The documentary also includes imaginative segments like a fictional off-Broadway musical called “Slanted! Enchanted!” and a faux Hollywood biopic titled “Range Life” starring Joe Keery as lead singer Stephen Malkmus. Perry incorporates other creative aspects to build a mythology around Pavement. This includes an international exhibition, “Pavements 1933-2002,” showcasing artwork, Malkmus’ old notebooks, and quirky items like a clipped toenail from the band’s original drummer, Gary Young.
While “Pavements” doesn’t follow a strict chronology, it does cover key moments in Pavement’s history. The film traces their journey from suburban Stockton, California, to releasing influential albums throughout the 1990s and touring with acts like Sonic Youth.
An imaginative documentary approach
Perry, along with editor Robert Greene, strikes a balance between factual recounting and imaginative retelling. Some of the most entertaining scenes involve the behind-the-scenes clips of the Pavement musical, where theater performers earnestly sing and dance to the band’s catalog. At just over two hours, “Pavements” mirrors the unruly yet tailored spirit of Pavement’s music.
It serves as a fitting companion to Perry’s 2018 fiction film “Her Smell,” which evoked the life of Hole’s Courtney Love. Through its mix of irony and misdirection, “Pavements” captures the enigmatic allure of Pavement and the “Alternative Nation” era they helped define. The documentary offers a compelling tribute to the band’s enduring legacy.
For both longtime fans and those discovering Pavement’s music, “Pavements” provides an immersive and inventive exploration of the ’90s indie rock icons. The film opens on Friday, May 9, at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre in West Los Angeles.
