Devo

Synopsis

Acclaimed filmmaker Chris Smith (Wham!, Fyre, 100 Foot Wave, and Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond) captures 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, Devo 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.
Band members are open with their memories and archives, charting their origins as Kent State University arts students shaped by the activism of the late 1960s. Following the 1970 massacre on their campus, the band’s concept of cultural “De-Evolution” turned from satirical humor to urgent social commentary, and what began as subversive counterprogramming to KSU’s 1973 arts festival would go on to warn of, comment on, and reflect back the absurdism of the late 20th century. 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.
Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2024 - Premieres - World premiere

Details

Year

2024

Type of film

Features

Running Time

93 min

Director

Chris Smith

Producer

Danny Gabai, Chris Smith, Anita Greenspan, Chris Holmes

Co-Producer

Sam Epstein

Executive Producer

Mandy Chang, Stuart Souter, William Kennedy, Charles Cohen, Kathy Rivkin Daum, Stacy Smith, Stuart Goldstein, Vanessa Case

Editor

Joey Scoma

Director of Photography

Chris Smith

Music

Mark Mothersbaugh

Graphics & Animation

Stefan Nadelman

Genre

• Music / Dance
• Documentary

Production status

Complete

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Last updated 25th January 2024