It’s going to be a busy year for Glen Hansard, what with supporting Bruce Springsteen this summer. But first up is Conor Masterson’s artful documentary about The Frames, which was filmed over two years with the band to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
Shot in black and white, In The Deep Shade is like a feature music video for the band, featuring stunning shots of birds flying overhead, the stark beauty of bare trees, crashing waves and striking skies. All the while, the band’s music provides a slow crescendo of emotion as short snippets of interviews show the band talking about Hansard’s leadership, balancing their friendship and their creative process.
The interviews prove slight, however, providing little background information and quickly skipping over the phenomenon of Once and The Swell Season. Instead Masterson focuses on showing the dynamic between the band members. From Hansard’s confident description of himself as a “platoon leader in battle” (followed quickly by Colm Mac Con Iomaire’s dry assertion that the platoon leader often “gets us killed”), to a warm and funny Barrys Vs. Lyons Tea competition backstage; insight is given in brief and tantalising bites.
What does become evident is the band’s onstage presence and electrifying performances. Masterson shoots these reverently, keeping Hansard in close-up as the charismatic frontman engages in effortlessly emotional, humorous and philosophical banter with his audience.
Though too light on information to act as a definitive examination of The Frames for neophytes, Masterson’s striking artistry is a joy to watch. Combined with the band’s passionate performances of their honest and affecting music, the final result is one of gorgeous and emotive intimacy.