TIU
by Kathryn Loggins

Dean DeBlois, Iceland 2022

Of Monsters and Men, an Icelandic indie rock band that has had huge global success since forming in 2010, was in the middle of a global tour when the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to cut their tour short. Deciding to forgo trying to play in front of crowds for a while, they sought to play their songs in various locations in Iceland that held personal meaning to them. What resulted is TIU, a beautiful music documentary directed by Dean DeBlois (HEIMA), which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival. The release of TIU coincided with the release of their EP of the same name, which included the brand-new track “Lonely Weather.” This particular track was performed on a boat at sea in the documentary and is truly a wonder to behold. Not only were the windy conditions not ideal for recording music, but the swaying of the boat made it difficult to keep time, which makes the end product all the more impressive.

More than just a series of music videos, the documentary is expertly crafted to give the audience a glimpse into the process the band uses to create their music. They seem more like a tight-knit family, learning from each other and supporting each other, even when their circumstances and the land itself can be harsh and unforgiving. The interviews with the band members are casual and homey and give the audience a peek behind the curtain without feeling too intrusive. As they travel from place to place and play song after song, the beauty of the cinematography and music blend seamlessly together, creating an experience that is immersive, poignant, and just plain lovely. (KL)