The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights
In the summer of 2007, just after the release of Icky Thump and in the lead-up to their tenth anniversary, The White Stripes set out on an ambitious and idiosyncratic tour, aiming to play in every province and territory in Canada, ‘from the ocean to the permafrost’, as Jack White put it.
Given the band’s heavy investment in creating mystique and managing their own image, it’s intriguing to learn that film maker Emmett Malloy was invited along, and was able to record this beautifully shot and often very touching document of their journey on and off stage.
The night-time gigs often have the feel of being big events in small towns, whilst during the day, Jack and Meg play a variety of ‘secret’ shows - in pool halls, schools, bowling alleys, even a flour mill - where their blues roots resonate with many of the communities they visit.
This version of The White Stripes, best seen in a wonderful scene with a group of Inuit elders, is less the cool, successful rock and roll band, and more as curious if musically gifted duo in search of authentic experiences.
Alongside this, the intimate moments between the acutely private Meg and her ersatz brother are fascinating, and ultimate poignancy of the film is every bit as haunting as the wide Canadian landscapes.