A tragicomic air clings to bands who gentle up the sky like a firework and fade away. The Norwegian topics of “a-ha: The Film” are finest identified for his or her 1985 hit “Tackle Me,” however, regardless of profitable exhibits, appear mired in artistic purgatory. Thomas Robsahm and Aslaug Holm’s documentary trawls the band’s profession with musings from its three members — Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen and the Ken Dollesque lead singer Morten Harket — and key associates.
Bouncing round synth-pop-happy London within the early Eighties, the pushed trio of completed musicians landed a contract with Warner Brothers. “Tackle Me,” with its infectious arpeggios and liberating excessive notes, made them stars, boosted by a pleasant part-animated music video from Steven Barron (who additionally made movies for “Billie Jean” and “Cash for Nothing”).
Then what? The documentary opinions the band’s chronology like a slavish but intermittently lucid Wikipedia entry. We don’t find out how a-ha continued to get the privilege of releasing albums (together with denim and shiny-shirt phases at both finish of the Nineties) or what saved hundreds of followers coming again for extra. However we do witness 100 muted shades of glum and listless: Furuholmen nonetheless appears unhappy about abandoning guitar for keyboards, a long time in the past, whereas Harket talks about needing his area. Waaktaar-Savoy’s perspective could be summed up by a sticker behind him in a single shot: “No Silly Folks.”
There’s a slight wonky curiosity in seeing the grind of recording classes and fan service. However the movie feels promotional sufficient that it gained’t lean into the potential humor of their state of affairs.
a-ha: The Film
Not rated. Operating time: 1 hour 49 minutes. In theaters.
