The The: The Inertia Variations [Blu-ray]

The man behind the legendary British band The The attempts to challenge the contemporary political landscape through his own 12 hour live, shortwave radio broadcast. But is he really done with making music? A request to write a new song for the show reveals old demons of inertia and bereavement.

THE THE was formed by Matt Johnson in 1979 and the music inhabits a genre of its own: music of long shadows, high hopes, channeled anger, feverish passions and sweetly disturbing poignancy. In over four decades, THE THE have released just six studio albums, with Ensoulment being the latest addition in 2024.

This beautiful and moving 84-minute documentary, directed by Johanna St Michaels, is inspired by the poem of the same name by British-born, Los Angeles based poet John Tottenham. It is centered around Johnson's 12-hour live Radio Cineola broadcast, which included live music, poetry and interviews with teachers, healers, environmental activists and political commentators whose voices are frequently silenced.

Within the film Matt Johnson examines his troubled relationship with celebrity and the creative process and, through the tragic deaths of his mother and two of his brothers, how bereavement has informed his work and outlook. This film is not a traditional biography of Matt Johnson and The The, although it certainly provides an overview, seamlessly incorporating archive footage and the input of abiding creative collaborators such as Tim Pope.