★★★★★ The Guardian
★★★★ NZ Herald
★★★★ Flicks.co.nz
★★★★ Eye For Film
★★★★ NZ Listener
Faced with a deadly diagnosis, illustrious musician & Chills frontman, Martin Phillipps, begins a life-affirming battle between drug addiction and creation, to reclaim his place as one of the world’s most unlikely rock stars.
Finding fame in Europe with the otherworldly song ‘Pink Frost’ and on US college radio with the chart-topping ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’, The Chills came tantalisingly close to conquering the international musical world. But an uncompromising vision and constant pressure to succeed saw eccentric songwriter Phillipps fall into decades of debt and addiction in his hometown of Dunedin, New Zealand.
With an unrelenting quirky sense of humour, Phillipps uses his creativity to understand a very vulnerable, deeply pained core. And as he comes to terms with the past, piles of pop culture collections are sorted and songs of pure lyrical genius emerge; the film transpires as a “proof of life, while reminding us that the band’s songs… are bloody magnificent” (The Wire, UK).
Bear witness to the venerable Martin Phillipps as he “finally embraces his role as king of the underdogs” (Pitchfork).
“This is what a living legend looks and sounds like” – Rolling Stone
