King Loser: NZIFF Review

Cushla Dillon and Andrew Moore's documentary about the apparently legendary 90s band King Loser encapsulates everything a rock'n'roll doco should have.

Archive footage? Check. Modern day reflections? Check. Meditations on where it went wrong? Check. 

Taking in King Loser's final fractious tour around the country, the piece pontificates on life in a rock'n'roll band as well as the threads that are pulled apart and the ones that connect. Largely led by recollections from singer Chris Heazlewood, the piece spends as much time with the band as is seemingly possible, tapping into the claustrophobia or touring, the torment of teammates and also the love that evolves unexpectedly over the years.

It's a fairly straight forward and workmanlike doco, but it displays a sensitive edge showing the damage done to one of the founders Celia Mancini after a bike accident left her with a head injury. Perhaps the most incendiary member, Mancini's not afraid to hold back in both actions and language - but also tellingly, former band partner and romantic liaison Heazlewood isn't afraid to poke the bear, something which seems dangerous at best.

Peppered with reflections that the band imploded because they were "all a bit heinously shackled by pharmaceuticals", the slow decline and inevitable parting of the ways feels distinctively telegraphed by anyone with any cursory knowledge of where these bands go.

But there's also humour too - with Heazlewood warning band members not to get too drunk in case it appears like Spinal Tap. Yet not buried too deep within all this is a heartfelt plea over helping others in life after bands, a cruel reminder that breakdowns of both the band and the mind are permanent and a sign that help comes when you least expect it.

It does end in tragedy, but like most rock'n'roll docos this has a punkish infectious energy that surfs the good and the bad as like the band, the doco makers take on Heazlewood's mantra - "the whole ethos of King Loser is you're encouraged to fail."